(Download a higher resolution picture
by clicking on any picture below.) Cachuma Fire, May 2004 |
(Download a higher resolution picture
by clicking on any picture below.)
Fire broke out near Cachuma Lake on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, air tankers were called in to help extinguish the blaze.
It appears that the days of vintage airplanes fighting forest fires are over. The U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior announced on Monday, May 10 that they are terminating the contract for 33 large airtankers due to concerns over the airworthiness of the aircraft and public safety.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 breaks into the left hand
pattern for Runway 07 at the Santa Barbara Airport. It originally served with the
U.S. Navy as S2F, BuNo 152824. It was registered to US Forestry Commission as N511DF
on Aug 21, 1996. Marsh Aviation registered it as N426DF on August 30, 2000. It is not
the first Turbo-tracker to be registered as N426DF. S2F, BuNo 133245 carried that
registration in the early 1990s.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 lands on Runway 07.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 taxies into the Goleta
tanker station.
United Express Embraer Emb-120 Brazilia, N295UX takes off from Runway 07.
American Eagle SAAB 340, N903AE takes off from Runway 07.
United Express Bombardier Regionaljet, N3734 takes off from Runway 07.
Santa Barbara Airport Firetrucks.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 breaks into the left hand
pattern for Runway 07.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 lands on Runway 07.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 taxies into the Goleta
tanker station.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 taxies into the Goleta
tanker station.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 takes off from Runway 07.
Three more aerial tankers joined the force attacking the Cachuma Fire from the Goleta Tanker Station on Wednesday.
TBM Inc. Douglas C-54E Cargomaster, N8502R Tanker #65 heads for the
Cachuma Fire. Its Douglas construction number is 27367. It was delivered to the U. S.
Army Air Corps as 44-9141 on May 29, 1945. It was transferred to the U. S. Navy as R5D-4, BuNo
90411 the same day. It later served the U. S. Marine Corps as a VIP transport at Norfolk, Viginia until it was withdrawn from
use and stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in January 1973. It was purchased by
Kenneth Spiva and given its current registration on August 29, 1980. TBM Inc. bought it
on February 9, 1987.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker #20 takes off from
Runway 07 on its way to Paso Robles to fight another fire. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-5039. It
was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 150513 in 1963. After
transfer to the Spanish Air Force as 22-25, it served as an instructional
airframe at Texas State Technical College. It is based at
Redding.
The P-3 Orion Research Group, based in the Netherlands, has a P-3A Orion Aircraft Location Report.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A Orion, N920AU Tanker #20 takes off from Runway 07 on its
way to Paso Robles to fight another fire.
TBM Inc. Douglas C-54E Cargomaster, N8502R Tanker #65 in the left hand pattern
for Runway 07.
TBM Inc. Douglas C-54E Cargomaster, N8502R Tanker #65 taxies onto position
for refilling at the Goleta Tanker Station.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 taxies into the Goleta
tanker station.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 taxies into the Goleta
tanker station.
Neptune Inc. P-2H Neptune, N14447 Tanker #11 turns off Runway 07. Its
Lockheed Company construction number is 826-8010. It was built in 1955 and assigned
U.S. Navy BuNo 135587. It was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force as 8010.
Suddenly I heard the sound of many radial engines.
The Collings Foundation Boeing B-17G
Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24J Liberator passed over the airport
in formation on their way to the Santa Maria Airport.
Sun Country Boeing 737-8Q8, N806SY takes off from Runway 07. These days,
this is one of the biggest airliners to visit Santa Barbara.
Neptune Inc. P-2H Neptune, N14447 Tanker #11 cranks up its number-1
R-3350 radial engine as it prepares to depart on another mission.
Neptune Inc. P-2H Neptune, N14447 Tanker #11 takes off from Runway 07.
Neptune Inc. P-2H Neptune, N14447 Tanker #11 takes off from Runway 07.
TBM Inc. Douglas C-54E Cargomaster, N8502R Tanker #65 takes off from Runway 07.
TBM Inc. Douglas C-54E Cargomaster, N8502R Tanker #65 takes off from Runway 07.
Grumman S-2T, N426DF CDF Tanker #88 takes off from Runway 07.
TBM Inc. Douglas C-54E Cargomaster, N8502R Tanker #65 climbs out
from Runway 25.
Three large helicopters completed the air operation against the Cachuma Fire on Friday.
Evergreen Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane, N6979R Tanker #707 approaches the
temporary filling station. Its Sikorsky construction number is 64079. It was
built for a civilian operator in 1968.
The pilot of Evergreen Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane, N6979R Tanker #707 aims the
snorkle at the tank of retardent. On July 7, 2003 the tail rotor of N6979R was substantially
damaged near Tucson, Arizona.
The rotors of Evergreen Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane, N6979R Tanker #707 flex as it
lifts away from the tank with a full load.
Columbia Helicopters Kawasaki-Vertol KV107-11, N184CH approaches the temporary
tanker station. Its Kawasaki-Vertol construction number is 4001. It was built in 1962.
Water sloshes as Columbia Helicopters Kawasaki-Vertol KV107-11, N184CH
lowers its bucket into the tank.
Columbia Helicopters Kawasaki-Vertol KV107-11, N184CH
hovers over the tank.
Siller Brothers Sikorsky S-61N, N15456 approaches the temporary
tanker station.
Siller Brothers Sikorsky S-61N, N15456 approaches the temporary
tanker station. Its Sikorsky construction number is 61826. It was built in 1980.
The pilot of Siller Brothers Sikorsky S-61N, N15456 aims the
bucket at the tank of retardent.
Siller Brothers Sikorsky S-61N, N15456 dips its
bucket in the tank.
Water sloshes from the bucket of Siller Brothers Sikorsky S-61N, N15456 as it hauls one last load to
the Cachuma Fire.
You can buy a 2008 Calendar featuring my photographs of aerial tankers in flight and fighting fires.
A dozen photos of aerial tankers:
Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress N17W Tanker 04, Santa Barbara, September 12, 1979
Douglas DC-7C N5903 Tanker 35, Santa Barbara, November 28, 1980
Douglas C-54E Cargomaster N460WA Tanker 151, Santa Ynez Valley, July 30, 1990
Air Force Reserve Lockheed C-130E Hercules 62-1081, Reno Stead, September 15, 1991
California Air National Guard C-130E Tanker 6, NAWS Pt. Mugu, April 25, 1998
Douglas C-54E Cargomaster N8502G Tanker 65, Santa Barbara Airport, May 5, 2004
Evergreen S-64E Skycrane N6979R Tanker 707, Santa Ynez Valley, May 7, 2004
Siller Brothers Sikosky S-61N N15456, Santa Ynez Valley, May 7, 2004
McDonnell-Douglas DC-10-10 10 Tanker Air Carrier Tanker 910, Goleta, November 4, 2005
Evergreen International Boeing 747 Supertanker, San Bernardino, May 31, 2006
Grumman S-2T Tracker N439DF Tanker 74, Santa Barbara Airport, June 19, 2006
Lockheed P2V-5 N1386C Tanker 44, Santa Barbara, June 19, 2006
Put a copy of the Aerial Tankers: 2008 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $16.95.
Aerial tankers
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