Russian water bomber IL-76

[rondog]

The Russians have offered to sell us some of these, why the hell won't our government buy some instead of just letting our forests and homes burn, and our people die?

[lifeon2]

Pretty impressive.

[rondog]

That plane can saturate 600 yards in one shot, and we fight fires with a bucket hanging from a helicopter.

OK, how about American made? Damn it, there's better ways, use them! Piss away our money on other bullshit, grrrrr.

[Hoser]

Take a look at the Russian flying safety record and look at ours.

Airborn firefighting is nothing like it is in the movie Always. I have been doing it for over 20 years and still get scared more often than I would like.

[Hoser]

That plane can saturate 600 yards in one shot, and we fight fires with a bucket hanging from a helicopter.

It might lay a line 600 yards long, but how much does it put down? Not much and not very accurate.

Helo buckets are very effective actually.

[flan7211]

The russians have a lot of decent and effective pieces of equipment. Cold War attitudes have instilled Americans with the "commie junk" complex. If it was the right price I'd buy anything russian.

[HBARleatherneck]

delete

[two shoes]

... instead of just letting our forests and homes burn, and our people die?

Seriously? The Lodge Pole Pine is a 100 year tree, most old growth out here is 120-140 years... Well past due in the natural order of things. There would be the blight of Beetle Kill if we (humans) let nature take it's course. Fire is the way the forests rejuvenate. I don't like it, especially with loss of property and loss of life, but if you have a "defendable space" it is far better than relying on Gov't to help/protect you.

There are inherent risks and rewards to living in the mountains and by the oceans... People should do their part to mitigate the risks.

[Ridge]

Seriously? The Lodge Pole Pine is a 100 year tree, most old growth out here is 120-140 years... Well past due in the natural order of things. There would be the blight of Beetle Kill if we (humans) let nature take it's course. Fire is the way the forests rejuvenate. I don't like it, especially with loss of property and loss of life, but if you have a "defendable space" it is far better than relying on Gov't to help/protect you.

There are inherent risks and rewards to living in the mountains and by the oceans... People should do their part to mitigate the risks.

Bingo! Well said.

Forest fires are a natural event and help keep the soil fresh and the debris low. Humans think they can do better, and let the old and dead growth pile up so things can look more rustic when they build their homes out there. And then they are shocked when the dry, dead forest goes up in flames in a heartbeat.

[rondog]

I'm not saying to eliminate the helos and smaller bombers, but I'm not believing that a large bomber like these wouldn't be useful as a supplemental tool. Hell, even a fleet of C-130's would be good, just don't use ancient, worn-out ones from the 50's like that one that the wings snapped off of.

Wikipedia says the IL-76 can carry 13,000 gallons of water or retardant.

And I understand about how fires are "nature's way" of rejuvination. If that's the case, then why fight the fires at all? Because people build homes and live in those forests, that's why. I just think that we need a better water bomber fleet, and there's better options out there than just helos, crop dusters, small planes, and WWII/50's-era bombers & cargo planes. Modernize the damn fleets with more effective tools!