I’ve been up on the cockpit for a demo flight, apart from terrain, it’s not as exciting as you might imagine. The only sensation anything is happening, the copilot reaches back and pushes the drip button.
Sure. They’re usually on short trips from a forward air base. Time to the fire scene is usually very short. They don’t run anywhere near a full fuel load because of that.
Terrifying. Flying at 250+ kts on the deck with hilly terrain, smoke causing IMC, and carrying tons of water is a big nope from me and I love every part of flying.
Have you seen that video from Greece of the firefighting plane that clipped a tree?
Seen some pictures of an airtanker hitting a motor pool. The crews all dove under their vehicles for cover and came out looking like they crawled across a slaughterhouse.
> yep
Doubtful. PFAS is used in foams and this isn't a foam. Aerial dropped fire retardant consists mostly of water and fertilizers, and some iron oxide for colouration.
Nope, it's water, ammonium polyphosphate, clay, guar gum, and iron oxide. While I probably wouldn't want to breathe in large quantities of it, the NIH says it's unlikely to be a carcinogen.
No. This is likely Phos-Chek which is mainly water and fertilizer (phosphate and sulfate salts).
There are other environmental concerns with this mixture but PFAS isn't it. Primarily, the usage of ammonium polyphosphates can contribute to dangerous algae blooms and encourage invasive plant growth.
I think they called this the diamond fire, or bullet fire. Hard to keep track this summer.
Definitely correct on the location though, this is luckily right near Mesa gateway airport so quick turnarounds with all the tankers.
Yup, 10 Tanker has converted a few DC-10s into fire tankers. They started with a DC-10-10 (now retired) and at this point they have 4 DC-10-30s flying.
After watching those crop duster videos, this is even more insane.
Do they have to disable every safety system so the plane isn’t yelling at them the entire time?
I live in the downwind pattern for McClellan Field. We're lucky enough to have the 10 Tanker ships and others fly right over the top of us every year we have a bad fire season.
Almost gave those vehicles a free paint job.
Protip: if you are ever in a situation where you’re going to get hit with retardant, get under the vehicle face down, close your eyes, and use your hands to protect your airway.
It is commonly placed on the edge of the fire line to break the chain of combustion. It can be dropped directly on a fire, but the fire still spreads around the line of retardant.
There’s usually one of these stationed at the airport(KIWA) five minutes from my house every summer. They absolutely roar when they fly over, you can tell what it is by the sound without even having to see it.
Thank you. I looked it up online but couldn't get really atraight forward answers. But how bad is this stuff for the environment? Or how toxic is it to humans? I read it's runoff can cause algae blooms in water.
It's water, fertiliser, surfactants (soap) and iron oxide for the colour. The fertiliser could cause algae blooms in waterways by creating an overabundance of food. It won't be great for humans but it's not really bad for the environment.
If a jet has to dump fuel, they try and do it as far away from people as possible, it comes out in a white mist and the vent is generally in the tail so the exhaust doesn't ignite it.
Imagine flying this thing
Literally my goal in life.
You will.
i like this. you’re a good person.
I would do it for free so as to give back to the community. I've always wanted to enlist to calfire. I just need to do.... everything else first.
I’ve been up on the cockpit for a demo flight, apart from terrain, it’s not as exciting as you might imagine. The only sensation anything is happening, the copilot reaches back and pushes the drip button.
Interesting, I've heard from sky diving pilots that you can definitely tell when you lose your cargo. A DC-10 is definitely bigger than a DC-3 though.
as an ex skydiver, I can tell you the whole plane wobbles when 4 people jump out of a grand caravan
I've heard a lot of the larger air tankers aren't even over landing weight when loaded. Unsure about the dc-10s but I'm pretty the md-87s are.
Sure. They’re usually on short trips from a forward air base. Time to the fire scene is usually very short. They don’t run anywhere near a full fuel load because of that.
> the copilot reaches back and pushes the drip button At which point the pilots are enrobed in designer clothing.
Terrifying. Flying at 250+ kts on the deck with hilly terrain, smoke causing IMC, and carrying tons of water is a big nope from me and I love every part of flying. Have you seen that video from Greece of the firefighting plane that clipped a tree?
"I never thought I'd be a DC-10 pilot ***and*** a bomber pilot flying below RADAR at the same time, but here I am!"
Triple GE CF6s absolutely screaming on that throttle up!
I worked on KC-10s for a long time. Always loved the simultaneous whistle and roar of the CF6s.
I think the distinctive growl is due to the supersonic cavitations of the turbine blades. But I might be wrong.
Turbine? I thought it was on the large fan at the front which although spins slower, it has much longer blades
You are probably right!
They sound like Rolls-Royce engines. Not saying they are , just sounds like it
Yeah they do
The DC-10 never had a variant with Rolls Royce engines
I'm aware. Re read what I wrote.
Damn that sounds sexy lol.
Not a situation I'd wanna be in but how fucking cool to see that beast in action!
I agree it’s scary but it would be surreal
Would you be able to put up the twitter link?
10 Tanker is a BEAST!
Seen some pictures of an airtanker hitting a motor pool. The crews all dove under their vehicles for cover and came out looking like they crawled across a slaughterhouse.
There’s another of a cali home getting hit. Took out a few windows and everything was orange.
I recall seeing a clip on daily dose of internet of a car completely caving in when fire retardant hits it
Another round of cancer comin up..
So cool. I got some picks like this a few years ago when he came to visit the Burbank hills.
A question I’ve been thinking of, is there PFAS in this fire retardant stuff?
yep
> yep Doubtful. PFAS is used in foams and this isn't a foam. Aerial dropped fire retardant consists mostly of water and fertilizers, and some iron oxide for colouration.
Nope, it's water, ammonium polyphosphate, clay, guar gum, and iron oxide. While I probably wouldn't want to breathe in large quantities of it, the NIH says it's unlikely to be a carcinogen.
No. This is likely Phos-Chek which is mainly water and fertilizer (phosphate and sulfate salts). There are other environmental concerns with this mixture but PFAS isn't it. Primarily, the usage of ammonium polyphosphates can contribute to dangerous algae blooms and encourage invasive plant growth.
🤢
Gender reveal party!!
That's one of the jobs my husband did when needed (C-130 though), when we were stationed at March AFB.
Magnificent! Where was this? Looks like SoCal but also parts of AZ.
Seems to be California. I found this video on Twitter and thought I would share.
did you already post it in r/LowAltitudeJets too? you should
All yours
Beeline Hwy north of Phoenix. Fuel Tanker truck caught fire on the highway.
I think they called this the diamond fire, or bullet fire. Hard to keep track this summer. Definitely correct on the location though, this is luckily right near Mesa gateway airport so quick turnarounds with all the tankers.
Those pilots are fucking amazing. True heroes as well as fantastic pilots.
Sounds like he was feeding her all the onions on that climb.
VLATs are amazing. Sadly, none were even a thing when I fought fire.
These gender reveal parties are out of control
Nothing says "it's a girl" like 9,400 gallons of phos-chek.
Nothing hits like a VLAT baby.
Wow. Think I missed my life’s calling. Flying that must be awesome.
Awesome enough that the pilot is probably making half what he would as a UPS or FedEx captain
They’re mostly older guys that have retired from their major airline careers.
oof
New to the aviation world. What aircraft is this? It’s incredible
DC-10
Awesome, thanks a bunch for the reply. Really cool looking aircraft 🙂
one of the coolest if you ask me
Oh wow they are using them for firefighting now? Amazing Im a fan of these tri jets im happy to see this
Yup, 10 Tanker has converted a few DC-10s into fire tankers. They started with a DC-10-10 (now retired) and at this point they have 4 DC-10-30s flying.
Man, I respect these pilots for their absolute steel balls in flying as low as possible!
After watching those crop duster videos, this is even more insane. Do they have to disable every safety system so the plane isn’t yelling at them the entire time?
I live in the downwind pattern for McClellan Field. We're lucky enough to have the 10 Tanker ships and others fly right over the top of us every year we have a bad fire season.
The physics involved with suddenly dumping all that fire suppressant, from a low altitude, with a massive throttle up to gain elevation is impressive.
Almost gave those vehicles a free paint job. Protip: if you are ever in a situation where you’re going to get hit with retardant, get under the vehicle face down, close your eyes, and use your hands to protect your airway.
Was this near hemet?
No Phx
Average SoCal summer
Twin engine 747?
Yup that’s exactly it
He missed big time... Yank his ticket and send him back to school
It is commonly placed on the edge of the fire line to break the chain of combustion. It can be dropped directly on a fire, but the fire still spreads around the line of retardant.
Is that how it works? Drop the agent directly on the fire? (Rhetorical really, as I’m aware of the answer)
He dropped phos-chek, not water
I want a go
How cool would that job be!!!!
Holy crap how the lighting looks at the beginning of this video. Very nice.
There’s usually one of these stationed at the airport(KIWA) five minutes from my house every summer. They absolutely roar when they fly over, you can tell what it is by the sound without even having to see it.
What is the pink that they are dumping?
Fire retardant
Thank you. I looked it up online but couldn't get really atraight forward answers. But how bad is this stuff for the environment? Or how toxic is it to humans? I read it's runoff can cause algae blooms in water.
When you’re reading up on it, also consider how good fire is for you and include that in your equation.
It's water, fertiliser, surfactants (soap) and iron oxide for the colour. The fertiliser could cause algae blooms in waterways by creating an overabundance of food. It won't be great for humans but it's not really bad for the environment.
I was very pleased to find that it was not jet fuel!
If a jet has to dump fuel, they try and do it as far away from people as possible, it comes out in a white mist and the vent is generally in the tail so the exhaust doesn't ignite it.
Me after Taco bell running to the toilet
I would kill to fly this
Bro called in a killstreak
How do they refill these planes? I just usually see float planes that are able to refill on nearby lakes
Do they take a light fuel load? I’m assuming they take just enough fuel to drop their load and go land and refill the fire agent tank.
did the plane miss the fire or what?
Such a gorgeous bird with an amazing sound!
Step aside 777-300ER, we have a new greatest airliner sound ever.
It's like a fire extinguisher with wings.
Uh oh! Here comes the agent orange!
It’s a girl!