Russian water bomber IL-76

[rondog]

That is a wonderfully large plane that most likely comes with wonderfully large costs to operate.

I'm sure hundreds of firefighters on the ground with trucks and other equipment aren't cheap either. One pass from a big water bomber could do what it would take a ground team days to do, without risking firefighters lives. Remember the lives lost on Storm King Mountain?

[speedysst]

I'm sure hundreds of firefighters on the ground with trucks and other equipment aren't cheap either. One pass from a big water bomber could do what it would take a ground team days to do, without risking firefighters lives. Remember the lives lost on Storm King Mountain?

True but in situations like last year where there were very few large fires, the planes still cost money to maintain and park/store. I wonder what the parking fee for a IL-76 is?

[rondog]

OK, I just thought they would be a good idea. But I certainly have no experience fighting fires. If those that do say the big planes wouldn't work that well, I can't argue with their experience!

[DFBrews]

OK, I just thought they would be a good idea. But I certainly have no experience fighting fires. If those that do say the big planes wouldn't work that well, I can't argue with their experience!

I worked on a wildland crew for 3 summers Ron and the guys on the ground are almost more important than the air support. we are the ones going thru knicking trees down so that the fire drops from the crown to the undergrowth and digging the fire line so it stops there. that is how a fire becomes contained. the water just slows it down. to give us a chance to cut line

[Hoser]

I worked on a wildland crew for 3 summers Ron and the guys on the ground are almost more important than the air support. we are the ones going thru knicking trees down so that the fire drops from the crown to the undergrowth and digging the fire line so it stops there. that is how a fire becomes contained. the water just slows it down. to give us a chance to cut line

The guys on the ground are the most important part. Aircraft, for the most part, do not drop directly on the flames. We drop retardant in the path of the flames to give the ground crews a break to cut a line.

[DFBrews]

The guys on the ground are the most important part. Aircraft, for the most part, do not drop directly on the flames. We drop retardant in the path of the flames to give the ground crews a break to cut a line.

We where on the million fire in south fork and actually had to have a slurry drop on us because of a wind change that shit hurts and is sticky!

[XDMan]

Hoser,

Do you know why they haven't called you guys out with your C130s?

Leo

[blacklabel]

Is there a point where the air traffic itself becomes dangerous because of the number of aircraft operating? I would think that would become a limiting factor at some point.

[Hoser]

Is there a point where the air traffic itself becomes dangerous because of the number of aircraft operating? I would think that would become a limiting factor at some point.

It is a huge factor.

The big Big sky, little plane theory does not work when everyone is working the same fire.

[ColoWyo]

When I flew smoke-jumpers, you definitely had to have your head on a swivel. And that was with just a few airplanes around. Maybe a lead plane, us, and a tanker. I can't imagine what a fire like this has going on in regards to aircraft all over the place.

I have to wonder now that I think about it, why the heck doesn't Colorado have a smoke-jumper base?