Santa Barbara Air Attack Station Day Fire operations

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Tankers fought the Day Fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station for ten days, from Monday, September 18 to Wednesday September 27. Three Lockheed P-2 Neptunes and four Lockheed P-3 Orions were photographed during the period.

As of Monday, October 2, the Day fire has consumed 162,702 acres and is 92 percent contained. The fire is burning in chaparral and timber, with minimal fire behavior. Light precipitation minimized fire activity. A Sikorsky-64E helicopter accident occurred on 10/1. The pilot and co-pilot received minor injuries. No structures are threatened. Evacuation orders and most road closures have been lifted. Resources continue to be demobilized.

As of Thursday, September 28, the Day fire has consumed 159,281 acres and is 41 percent contained. This fire is 22 miles northwest of Santa Claria and is burning in chaparral and scattered timber. Structures, power and gas lines, and communication and archeological sites are threatened and evacuations are in effect. The fire is very active with crown runs in timber, backing into drainages, spotting up to ¼ mile, with several spots detected off the bluffs in the headwaters of Sisar Creek. Evacuation, road closures, and structure protection is in place in Lockwood Valley, Cuddy Valley, Vision, Chuchupate, Lake of the Woods, Pine Mountain Club, Pinon Pines, and Indian Pines.

Wednesday, September 27

Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 on right downwind leg to Runway 25. It was returning to Santa Barbara from Santa Maria by way of the Gaviota VOR. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 150513 in April 1963. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-5039. After transfer to the Spanish Air Force, it served as an instructional airframe at Texas State Technical College.

Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 on approach to land on Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151361 in April 1964. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-5074.

Tanker 25 scrubs its tires on Runway 25.

Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 25

Air Cargo Carriers Shorts 330, N390GA takes off from Runway 25. It was registered as G-BJFK by Short Brothers on August 27, 1981. It was delivered to Inter City Airlines on September 25, 1981. British Midland Airways leased it on October 1, 1981 and bought it on August 2, 1983. Short Brothers bought it on March 30, 1984. Air UK leased it on May 6, 1984 and returned it to Short Brothers on January 4, 1985. Spacegrand Aviation Services leased it in April 1985 and sub-leased it to Jersey European Airways on October 125, 1985. National Airways leased it on July 21, 1987. Fairflight Leasing Limited bought it on October 13, 1987. Air Europe Express leased it on April 27, 1989 and returned it to Short Brothers in January 1990. It was withdrawn from use and stored at Exeter, South Devon, UK. It has been registered to Air Cargo Carriers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin since May 19, 1998.

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151387. Its construction number is 185-5100.

Tanker 22

Fedex ATR-42-300, N917FX takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 25

Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 20

Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 22

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Framed Tanker 22 Prints

You can buy 8"x10" or 11"x14" prints of my photo of Aero Union Lockheed P-3A Orion N922AU Tanker 22 at Santa Barbara on September 27, 2006 from the LockettBooks Store at Lulu.com. Prints are available unframed, framed, or matted and framed (8"x10" only).

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Tanker 22

As of Wednesday, September 27, the Day fire has consumed 144,884 acres and is 42 percent contained. This fire is 22 miles northwest of Santa Claria and is burning in chaparral and scattered timber. Structures, power and gas lines, and communication and archeological sites are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Fire behavior included rapid rates of spread, runs, spotting, and backing fire. The fire jumped Lockwood Valley Road, east of Lockwood Flats. Evacuation of Lockwood Valley is ongoing. Five non-residential structures were lost.

Tuesday, September 26

Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 on approach to land on Runway 25.

Tanker 20

Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 takes off from Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151385 in September 1964. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-6098.

Tanker 20 on approach to land on Runway 25.

Tanker 20 scrubs its tires on Runway 25.

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 on approach to land on Runway 25.

Tanker 21 scrubs its tires on Runway 25.

Air Cargo Carriers Shorts 330, N390GA takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 20

Sunday, September 24

Santa Barbara Airport Fire Truck F82 begins its take-off roll on Runway 25.

Clay Lacy Aviation Learjet 35A, N354CL

Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 on approach to land on Runway 25.

Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 25

Friday, September 22

Four Aero Union Lockheed P-3 Orion tankers continued to fight the Day fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station on Thursday and Friday. As of Friday, September 22, the Day fire has consumed 107,685 acres and is 39% contained. It is 22 miles northwest of Santa Clarita, CA in timber and chaparral. An Area Command Team (Waterbury) and two Type 1 Incident Management Teams (Pincha-Tulley and Dietrich) are assigned to this incident. The fire grew to the north, with significant potential for rapid growth on the southwest, threatening the communities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, Rose Valley, Upper Ojai and Ojai this weekend. Precautionary evacuations have started in upper Santa Paula; Fillmore; Ojai and Upper Ojai in anticipation of Santa Ana winds. Threats are to communities, communications infrastructure, municipal watersheds and electrical facilities.

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 07.

Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 lands on Runway 07.

Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 taxies off of Runway 07.

Tanker 20

Tanker 25

Tanker 22

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 takes off from Runway 07.

Tanker 21

Wednesday, September 20

On Wednesday, September 20, Lockheed P-3A Orion Tankers 22, 22, and 25 continued to fight the Day fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station. P-3A Orion Tanker 21 was out of the rotation for the day. As of September 20 the Day fire has burned 93,339 acres and is 20% contained with no estimate of the date of containment.

Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 07.

Tanker 25

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 taxis into the air attack station.

Tanker 22

Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 25

Cessna 208B Caravan, N208EB takes off from Runway 25.

Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.

Tanker 20

Tanker 22

Tanker 20

Tanker 20 lands on Runway 25 as Tanker 25 taxis out.

Tanker 25

Tanker 22

Tanker 20

Tanker 22

Tanker 25

Tuesday, September 19

On Tuesday, September 19, Lockheed P-3A Orion Tanker 21 continued to fight the Day fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station. It was joined by P-3A Orion Tanker 22, and three Lockheed P2V Neptune tankers; 09, 12, and 44. As of September 19 the Day fire is 20% contained with no estimate of the date of containment.

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 at the air attack station on Tuesday September 19. Tanker 21 was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151385 in September 1964. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-6098.

Tanker 21

Dassault-Breguet Falcon 900, N914DD on approach to land on Runway 25. The certification date of this Falcon is July 5, 2006. It is making its first flights following the installation of its interior fittings.

Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune, N96264 Tanker 12 was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 128346. Its construction number is 426-5192.

Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 on approach to land on Runway 25.

Tanker 12

Tanker 22

Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, N1386C Tanker 44 on approach to land on Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 128422 in 1951. Its construction number is 426-5268.

Tanker 44

Tanker 12

Tanker 22

Neptune Aviation Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, N4235T Tanker 09 takes off from Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as P2V-7S BuNo 150282. Its construction number is 726-7285.

Tanker 21

Tanker 22

Tanker 09

Tanker 21

Tanker 22

Tanker 09

Tanker 21

Tanker 44

Tanker 21

Tanker 44

The display of pictures from Monday, September 18 continues below

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Day Fire Tankers at Santa Barbara

2009 Calendar

You can buy a 2009 calendar featuring my photographs of Day Fire Tankers at Santa Barbara.

Aerial tankers fought the Day Fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station for ten days, from Monday, September 18 to Wednesday September 27. Three Lockheed P-2 Neptunes and four Lockheed P-3 Orions visited the Air Attack Station during the fire. This calendar includes a dozen photos of those tankers:

Neptune Aviation Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, N4235T Tanker 09
Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune, N96264 Tanker 12
Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, N1386C Tanker 44
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25

Put a copy of the Day Fire Tankers at Santa Barbara: 2009 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $16.95.

Aerial Tankers

2008 Calendar

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.

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Monday, September 18

A trio of Aero Union Lockheed P-3A Orions fought the Day Fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station on Monday September 18.

As of September 18 the National Incident Information Center describes the Day Fire:

Day is 22 miles northwest of Santa Clarita, CA in timber and chaparral. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Pincha-Tulley) is assigned. Santa Ana winds caused significant growth and evacuation recommendations in Filmore, Upper Ojai, and Santa Paula. Threats are to communities and critical infrastructure including communications, municipal watersheds and electrical facilities. Condor habitat is also endangered. Smoke and ash are problematic. Hotter and dry temps and single digit humidities are predicted for the several days. Sespe Wilderness user evacuations were conducted by air.

Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 landing on Runway 25.