CV-580 Airtanker

[85Catpower]

Awesome Video, this is the kinda music you want when fighting fires from the air!!

[blinko656]

Is that the 'Sound of Music theme"?

[moriwaki911]

2:36 insane, sooo close to clipping the wing on the mountain, he is in a dive down the mountain in this drop,  these pilots are good !!!

[mediamonitor980]

RIP to the crew of #48.

Killed near Lytton, BC July 31st, 2010.

[beemer099]

@mediamonitor980 Thanks for making that comment mediamonitor980...these guys are very brave and put their lives on the line on every drop...very sad to hear about the crash.

[raymondm11]

I got to spend an hour or so touing #44 in penticton last summer. verry inpressive! I worked on the fire lines for a few years and seeing these planes and all the other ones never seems to get old!

[geldhundt]

Hope to see you guys out there. After ten years working at idiot jobs, I get to organize a hand crew and take them out on fire this summer. Life is effing great!

[phaneray]

Any airtanker will not STOP a fire. They drop there loads usually near flanks and possibly on the head of fires, depending if they consist of retardant or water loads. All in all to buy the ground crew some time to get in and secure the fire. Water loads out of 215s, helis, etc do help alot more, then again its still all up to the ground crews.. Cheers, hats off to all our canadian wild land firefighters...

[dhc6pilot]

Great video! Although I much prefer the flatter terrain of Saskatchewan. Check out my channel (dhc6pilot) for Sask firefighting videos from long ago.

Former Birdog 6 & Tanker 216

[ske2636]

I have 740hrs in a cv580 what a great airplane to fly but it is a truck miss flying them

[sunsetreptiles]

sometimes they dump right on the fire, Ive seen them do it all. Ive also seem them dump on houses

[sunsetreptiles]

if you want to see them in action move to cali in the summer time

[TheCannonofMohammed]

Is the Convair airframe really up to this? Remember, they were manufactured as CV 330/440's back in the early to mid 50's. Fantastic engine---Alison 501-D's---do they have water injection?

[spacewolf40K]

Awesome video!!! 3:45-3:59 in my home city :D. I love it how every summer they're stationed here in Penticton. My future job, hopefully!!

[dobermans4you2]

I wish I could see these guys in action!

[fireslash27]

Great video.

[Spartreeman]

Where are you guys based out of?, The last shot looked familiar was that Kelowna

[73CDN]

The footage is from all over BC..

[gnu3443]

some of the pilots in the video are such chickens that they would not get close to the fires, they would just release their loads and pull up!

[hyrdflyr]

There's no "chickens" flying tankers. There's generally no way to put out a fire with one load so you place it in the path of the fire and then when the fire reaches it it is stopped and can be controlled by the ground crews.

When you dump the retardant and if the speed is too fast at the release point, it can cause catastrophic structural failure and the crew and aircraft are lost. It happens too often.

[flying737]

I'd like to see you fly a 50,000 lb plus airplane through the mountains on the deck with turbulence from the fires beating the crap out of you, god bless those pilots they've saved a lot of lives with what they do. As hyrdflyr said they lay it down in front of the fire to stop it so the ground crew can get a handle on the fire. Please don't disrespect those brave pilots flying that airplane.

[biko0909]

amen brother!

[geldhundt]

As the other two comments explain, the retardent (the orange stuff) goes in front of the fire, not on top of the fire. Air tanker pilots are highly skilled, and they don't just fly around and dump mud at random. Talk to people who fight fire. Better yet, spend some time on the line yourself.

[SpenzOT]

asking too much from someone who obviously wouldn't do it if he/she had the chance simply because it is easier to whine and criticize.

ANYONE who criticizes fire-fighters, airborne or not, have serious mental issues. Any properly-raised child knows that. Emphasis on 'properly'

[geldhundt]

Amen! Chicken, indeed! Watch the one where the tanker comes in & drops at the base of the steep cliff. Look how close the plane gets to his own shadow coming over the ridge. Now tell me that guy is a chicken.

[Mushenzi]

gnu3443,

You are a clueless little idiot. Try playing less PSP. It might help you get your head out of your ASS! Flying tankers has a higher fatality rate than flying combat!

You MORON!

[mkjhartmann]

Obviously you have never fought a fire. Those guys rock, they've saved our butts a number of times! Unbelievable the trash people post.

[zeezee0583]

Another reason the tankers drop their loads ahead of the fires is fairly simple...whats the purpose of dumping on the fire when there's the risk of the fire continuing to spread, hence you dump ahead of the fire so the fire can only burn up to that line and it burns itself out. I'm not a wildlands fire fighter dont know anyone who is but its common sense...just THINK before you speak next time. Takes more courage to be in those planes than the folks on the ground.

[biko0909]

Someday lad, you might mature and look back at how silly you appear.

My I recommend joining your local fire service. Walk(or fly) in their shoes first, before you depreate very skilled people who might save your home or family.

[Storzcouplings]

sweet video can say enough it is awsome--

[nightflight808]

Where do I sign up!?

I have 400tt Commercial Instrument CFI.

[carrchad]

Another great vid. I remember those fires!

[mkjhartmann]

Great video. They are great to see coming when fighting fires!

[gerryh22]

Took off as a 44 and landed as a 45. Must have been promoted.

(kidding)

[geldorf9]

Fabulous shots. I can't wait to show my daughters.

[viperq]

Good stuff