I was reading a fascinating article on this
http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16073369-despite-warnings-aging-firefighting-aircraft-still-flying-and-crashing?lite
Turns out that we have no money to build new planes and that we are sending pilots up in 50 year old airframes that are not designed to do this job. The clip below is a horrifyingly real example of what happens when you do this. I've watched it a couple of times and it still seems like something out of a film and not where a people died.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDNCac2N1o
Those firefighting pilots have balls of steel to be climbing into planes older than themselves to do this job
Con
See a lot of old dive bombers in use in Eastern/Atlantic Canada.
Fighting fires using any aircraft (plane or helicopter) is a dangerous business. Low to the ground, limited visibility, uncertain weather, heavy payload.
This might be a good area to test an unmanned firefighting drone. Twin engine, STOL, with the ability to carry a large payload, ability to operate in all weather conditions.
Quote from: eyebiter on December 23, 2012, 12:22:11 PM
This might be a good area to test an unmanned firefighting drone. Twin engine, STOL, with the ability to carry a large payload, ability to operate in all weather conditions.
Now that is a good idea, however, the problem is how to pay for it.
That C-130 clip is terrifying.