Firefighting Tankers and Support Aircraft

[jslugman]

5-bladed turboprop DC-3..... just magical!

[bilwor]

Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane N164AC Erickson Air-Crane  Libby Army Air Field Sierra Vista 05/26/11
You take the fence or you don't take the photo.

[Chris Kennedy]

Are these firefighting aircraft working on the fire down in the SE corner of the state?

[bilwor]

Yes they are fighting the Arlene Fire 2.5 miles from Parker Canyon Lake  and the Horseshoe 2 fire in the Chiricahua mountains.

[Chris Kennedy]

Yes they are fighting the Arlene Fire 2.5 miles from Parker Canyon Lake  and the Horseshoe 2 fire in the Chiricahua mountains.

I thought they must be. Thanks!

[cpasley]

I didnt see the fence, all I saw was that huge orange helicopter

[David Loera]

[cpasley]

FANTASTIC! nice one david, good catch on a bird not native to our neck of the woods

[Brian Lockett]

There was limited tanker activity at the Winslow Tanker Station on Monday and Tuesday.  The station was deserted about 11:00 AM on Monday.  I returned at 2:30 PM.  Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion N921AU Tanker 21 had just landed.

  Erickson Air Crane Sikosky S-64F Skycrane N158AC is operating as a fuel tender.

Minden Air SP-2H Neptune N4692A Tanker 48 and a second P-2 landed and parked soon afterward.

Tanker 21 departed at 2:45 PM.  There was no further activity before I left about an hour later.

Tanker 21 was the only airplane at the tanker station when I arrived on Tuesday morning.

Tanker 21 departed at 10:11 AM.  There was no further activity before I left at noon.

[Joe Copalman]

Looks like they were using RWY22 then?  Paul and I found a great spot for 22 departures, and the FBO seemed to be the best spot for 22 arrivals.  Glad you at least caught SOMETHING moving.

You didn't happen to see two 4' ladders laying around up there, did you?   

[Brian Lockett]

Looks like they were using RWY22 then?  Paul and I found a great spot for 22 departures, and the FBO seemed to be the best spot for 22 arrivals.  Glad you at least caught SOMETHING moving.

You didn't happen to see two 4' ladders laying around up there, did you?   

The tanker operations that I saw were all off Runway 22.  I didn't have time to get around to the west side of the airport before Tanker 21 took off both days.  Caliente Drive looks like it has a good view of departures from Runway 22.

I was looking for lost ladders while I was there, but I didn't see any.

[Joe Copalman]

Roger that on Caliente, just north of the junkyard.  Looked like it would have been perfect, especially in the afternoon. 

Not too much of a bummer on the ladders - both were bent and slightly wobbly.

[Ned Harris]

Air Tractor AT-802A Single Engine Air Tanker.
Libby Army airfield, 6-15-11.


_92W0822 Air Tractor AT-802A by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[Ned Harris]

Lockheed SP-2H Neptune heading towards the Monument Fire. 8/17/11.


_92W1675 Tanker 55 (N355MA) by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[bilwor]

Bell 209 Cobra N109Z USDA Forest Service (Bell AH-1G-BF Cobra US Army 69-16422 cn 29854. Converted to AH-1F. To US Forest Service in 2003 as Bell 209 N109Z.)  Libby Army Air Base 06/21/11