FUTURE FORUM HACK? GET YOUR SPARE CHANGE TOGETHER GENTS

[Capt. Vick]

Damn, I only have 4 million

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Full that sucker with Beer, charge $10.00 a cup, pays for itself.

Well, it doesn't hurt to dream does it?

I know guys who'd stand in the middle of a raging forest-fire awaiting that drop.

Not me, any more.

 

[fubar57]

I fought a forest fire in the '80s that involved one pass with the Mars. Very very impressive to say the least

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I fought a forest fire in the '80s that involved one pass with the Mars. Very very impressive to say the least

The ones I've seen (on video, never fought a wildfire involving a/c myself) it looks like those pilots would have made great B-25 pilots.

 

[GrauGeist]

The Mars used modified fuel cells to carry 7,000 gallons of retardant. To load the water, it would "skim" a body of water with it's scoop extended and as the water was gathered, it would mix with the phoscheck.

Here in Northern California, there used to be WWII aircraft converted to fire-bombers:
B-17s, TBFs and most recently (now retired), the PV Neptune.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

To load the water, it would "skim" a body of water with it's scoop extended and as the water was gathered, it would mix with the phoscheck.

I've seen that done before. It looks like a hairy evolution.

 

[MiTasol]

The Mars used modified fuel cells to carry 7,000 gallons of retardant. To load the water, it would "skim" a body of water with it's scoop extended and as the water was gathered, it would mix with the phoscheck.

Here in Northern California, there used to be WWII aircraft converted to fire-bombers:
B-17s, TBFs and most recently (now retired), the PV Neptune.

And many of the Catch 22 B-25 were fire bombers

 

[GrauGeist]

And many of the Catch 22 B-25 were fire bombers

Don't recall seeing B-25 water bombers up here, but the post-war S-2 Tracker is still active with CDF.

 

[Dash119]

Actually, by wing span, the H-4 is still the world's biggest. Some of the modern Antonovs are longer and have less wingspan, but in aviation the wingspan was generally the measure.

In terms of wingspan, I think the new champion is the Stratolaunch's 'Roc'. She just completed her third test flight on the 16th of this month.

World’s Largest Airplane Completes First Test Flight in Eight Months

Stratolaunch’s Roc, the biggest airplane in the world by wingspan, completes its third test flight on Sunday—its first flight in more than eight months.

www.flyingmag.com

 

[special ed]

Yes, she beats the H-4's 320 foot span by a good margin. It's difficult for me to keep up with the new ones. I would certainly like to see it fly.

 

[GrauGeist]

The H-4 is still the world's largest flying boat.