Abe Sellards had three of them Tanker 89, Tanker 99 and another. In 1983 they were going for 350K apiece. Carl Dolbeare and Dan Townsend brought 99 to PA for a 30 day stay and a deal that fell through. I have a VHS tape I did just after called "B-17s over Memphis" (7 in the air at once) In it is a cockpit procedure between Carl and Dan and one of the lowest low-levels 6000 feet down ABE's main runway. I was in a T-28 filming from its rear seat ...In formation. Carl was pure pilot.
Everything great. The images. The music. This one of my favourite songs of all time and my favourite version also.Thanks for choosing it to accompany these great images.
this is a great video. hey leadBravo5 you a lead pilot or a tanker pilot? if you are a lead pilot are you based at Fox? if you are a tanker pilot what tanker do you fly?
I grew up watching all you guys at Hemet-Ryan in the 80s & 90s. Back in the glory days of "Top Mud" when it was still a joint CDF/USFS base. I remember the days of having easily 40+ tankers at the base when there were some real big fires & it was the coolest atmosphere in the world. Radials rumbling everywhere. Having a tanker pilot wave at you as a 4 yr old kid standing at the fence gets the spark going. Loved aviation ever since. You guys are living my dream. Stay safe & God bless you all :)
40+ tankers ... you must be old. Have you seen the FOX ATB shirt with Dave Kelly's photo of "the last hurrah" with dozens of tankers? We'll likely not see that again in our lifetimes ...
I'll be 30 in April... feeling old! Hemet has never been the same since the USFS pulled out. It's sad to think it'll never be that way again. Especially with what happened to the air tanker fleet nationwide. :( There is talk of the Forest Service bringing their operation back to Hemet, and I'd love that... but the way things are now, it'll never be like I used to see in the 80s and 90s ever again. I have seen his photo, it's a great shot!!!
great vid one of my favorite things to see on the fires is you guys and your planes you have helped so much over the years to save my butt in time of need. helicopters are cool but nothing like a big fire bomber to save the day.thanks for all you do we ground pounders appreciate it from a ground pounding crew from northwest Montana keep on keeping on bless your souls
I'm a firefighter with a rural fire department so we cover a fair bit of urban interface and forest area. It's not common but every so often we're on a wildland fire with the state crews and they call in one of you boys for heavy artillery, and there's nothing cooler to see. I also remember as a kid, the fire planes were my favorite part of the airshow.
Keep the drops a'coming, and stay safe fellas! We're cheerin' ya on down below.
Are those modified Consolidated Privateers @ 1:04 and 1:06?
pete2778 9 months ago
His name is Roy Patch. He flew out of Medford Oregon and also Redding Calif. Even flew in Canada one season.
patchmanford 1 year ago
I had the great pleasure of meeting Carl when he flew Globe Air's tanker 99 Boeing out here to sell it. Collings foundation bought it eventually.
Great pilot
s6u6r6f6 1 year ago
@s6u6r6f6
Yes -- Globe Air had a B-17 #99 back in the 70s and/or 80s.
leadBravo5 1 year ago 2
@leadBravo5
Abe Sellards had three of them Tanker 89, Tanker 99 and another. In 1983 they were going for 350K apiece. Carl Dolbeare and Dan Townsend brought 99 to PA for a 30 day stay and a deal that fell through. I have a VHS tape I did just after called "B-17s over Memphis" (7 in the air at once) In it is a cockpit procedure between Carl and Dan and one of the lowest low-levels 6000 feet down ABE's main runway. I was in a T-28 filming from its rear seat ...In formation. Carl was pure pilot.
s6u6r6f6 1 year ago
I thought Fire Pirates didn't wear shirts---
flyandsail 1 year ago
Everything great. The images. The music. This one of my favourite songs of all time and my favourite version also.Thanks for choosing it to accompany these great images.
Btw I regularly sing this song with my band .
Filmitis 1 year ago
AWSOME VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing.
AV8R4HM 1 year ago
I really enjoyed this video. My dad was a tanker pilot for Sis Q Flying Service. Nice collection of video and pictures!
patchmanford 2 years ago
@patchmanford
What was your dad's name? Glad you enjoyed the collection ...
leadBravo5 1 year ago
Thats Rock`n Roll
tassoss1 2 years ago
Yes indeedy, that's what we do is rock'n'roll !
leadBravo5 2 years ago
Blue Skies Gentlemen!
Try not to hit me.
You guys are awesome.
Thanks for keeping us safe.
"When the Forest Burns...Pigs die"
No more ham sammies!
FireLineUP 2 years ago
"Try not to hit me" ?? Tell us where you are and we'll give it our best shot.
leadBravo5 2 years ago
this is a great video. hey leadBravo5 you a lead pilot or a tanker pilot? if you are a lead pilot are you based at Fox? if you are a tanker pilot what tanker do you fly?
ktmdudeone 2 years ago 2
Real "Happy Days" ...
what a time we've had.
Great photos. I hope there will be more .
steelar 2 years ago
Funny you mention that ... we're working on more photos and a new video ...
leadBravo5 2 years ago
I grew up watching all you guys at Hemet-Ryan in the 80s & 90s. Back in the glory days of "Top Mud" when it was still a joint CDF/USFS base. I remember the days of having easily 40+ tankers at the base when there were some real big fires & it was the coolest atmosphere in the world. Radials rumbling everywhere. Having a tanker pilot wave at you as a 4 yr old kid standing at the fence gets the spark going. Loved aviation ever since. You guys are living my dream. Stay safe & God bless you all :)
kickZtailout 2 years ago 3
40+ tankers ... you must be old. Have you seen the FOX ATB shirt with Dave Kelly's photo of "the last hurrah" with dozens of tankers? We'll likely not see that again in our lifetimes ...
leadBravo5 2 years ago
I'll be 30 in April... feeling old! Hemet has never been the same since the USFS pulled out. It's sad to think it'll never be that way again. Especially with what happened to the air tanker fleet nationwide. :( There is talk of the Forest Service bringing their operation back to Hemet, and I'd love that... but the way things are now, it'll never be like I used to see in the 80s and 90s ever again. I have seen his photo, it's a great shot!!!
kickZtailout 2 years ago
@leadBravo5 where can i find those shirts ive heard people talking about them but i cant find them any where. thanks
ktmdudeone 1 year ago
The Fox tanker base shirts and FIREPIRATES shirts are here:
firepirates[dot]com/booty
(along with hundreds of photos and stories).
leadBravo5 1 year ago
@leadBravo5 thanks a lot bravo 5. you guys and gals stay safe out there.
ktmdudeone 1 year ago
great vid one of my favorite things to see on the fires is you guys and your planes you have helped so much over the years to save my butt in time of need. helicopters are cool but nothing like a big fire bomber to save the day.thanks for all you do we ground pounders appreciate it from a ground pounding crew from northwest Montana keep on keeping on bless your souls
dannybell420 2 years ago
Now that was a young looking Mike Lynn in there! :)
Great to see so much of aerial firefighting history. Its sobering also, how many of those pilots and aircraft have been since tragically lost.
nmfirepilot 3 years ago
Firefighters in the sky!
I'm a firefighter with a rural fire department so we cover a fair bit of urban interface and forest area. It's not common but every so often we're on a wildland fire with the state crews and they call in one of you boys for heavy artillery, and there's nothing cooler to see. I also remember as a kid, the fire planes were my favorite part of the airshow.
Keep the drops a'coming, and stay safe fellas! We're cheerin' ya on down below.
Yeorin 3 years ago
Bittersweet video................nice pictures of Carl.
He was truly one of the greats.
121022 3 years ago
We agree...
leadBravo5 2 years ago
Thank you. Carl would have liked that. You have obviously been around a while.
buttercreamgirl 3 years ago
Keep up the good work guys!
hellcat29er 3 years ago
I am in awe of these pilots and these planes, and the people who love them. Blue skies to all. GREAT JOB!!!
aquamarinedreams 4 years ago
Somebody has some really classic slides here. I hope you do another one! Great job.
Battalion7 4 years ago
You guys are Animals! Thanks for getting foscheck in my eyes and getting me out of the "Hots". Groundpounders love you guys!
FireLineUP 4 years ago
Awesome... the only tanker that was missing was Martin Mars.
viperq 4 years ago
thank amigos for doin' a great job'''''
32574 4 years ago
sweet video and great song
Storzcouplings 4 years ago