DC-10 Air Tanker drop over ZACA FIRE

[KC8YOQ]

What was the prop plane doing right after the jet made its drop?

[jberlotti]

@KC8YOQ The smaller prop planes serve as guides into the smoke. There was a huge fire on my base and all the bigger planes had the little scouts in front leading them in. Was quite an aerial ballet. Especially with all the helicopters added into the mix.

[chAse734]

damn that was one hell of a long drop

[Txman1996]

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

[sunsetreptiles]

They are not using the 747 right now its still in testing.

[colhunt76]

Wow, that's one heck of a BIG drop!

[cupwithhandles]

Outstanding video - almost looks fake (a compliment). Did you film that?

[willtotheumm]

I havent seen the DC10 in person... but it's soooo nice. There are 2 in exsistance now =)

[geterdonein01]

@willtotheumm I have.... man you wanna see this baby in person if you ever get the chance, you won't regret it.

[morbidfrost]

Chemtrails!

[lmsasquatch]

WTF?

[bmwman87]

Coool maaan! :)

[jasong19711]

The kinds of nuts that fear conspiracies like "Chemtrails" are going to SWEAR the fire fighters are using a "toxic red substance against the people" that it is "all part of the New World Order!" I kid you not. You should see the crazy videos and even more insane comments by people that buy into that dog shit!

[randall642]

why is it red?

[MondoMedia7]

that is the color of the chemical they mix with the water to make a slurry that prevents the fire from spreading.

Why not look it up for yourself on the information highway????

[Bagwsp]

Because people like you answer anyways. ;)

[SONIK198666]

trust me i feel ya i have alot of friends that buy into that bullshit!!! its annoying because most of them obviously dont understand science or physics and you are right im surprised i haven't heard that the fire fighters are "poisoning" us yet

[playgoog]

now THAT's a drop!!

[jeffmitchell123456]

they have a 747 that holds even MORE! they should use THAT next time!!!

[willtotheumm]

Yeah.... no. I work with Tankers. The DC10 is the biggest tanker in Cali. It only gets called out when it's needed (which trust me, the Zaca needed it. I live about 30 minutes away) and the DC10 costs $26,500 per-flight-hour (three hour minimum) to fly. Thats why it's only used in emergencies.

[Corndog819]

There is a 747 used for firefighting operated by Evergreen Aviation. If you google "747 water drop" you can see pictures of it.

And actually as of Oct. 17th, CalFire and Evergreen are working on a contract to get the 747 flying for California.

[nutmeg220]

wrong. DC10 is the largest tanker in use. the 747 tanker is only being tested, and the best part is that they are only testing it on flat land with no fires or anything close to fire simulation, not even a controlled burn or anything. it is very impractical to expect a 747 to fly low and slow enough through mountainous terrain and extremely windy conditions, when this is already enough to put the DC10 out of service most of the time.

[nutmeg220]

its a nice idea, but the 747 is probably going to cost more money than it is worth in the end... just wait and see...

[geterdonein01]

Sense you work with tankers you might know, will both Tanker 910 and Tanker 911 be used at the same fire? say like Humbolt or Zaca, or one of the big ass fires drove by the Santa Anna winds in southern cal where both would be of great use. Just curious. I seen this during the humbolt fire, fly over my house and i doubt more then one at the same time would be logical which is why im asking.

[raybanman]

What do they use for a lead plane? Citation/Commander/?

[400exNick]

So Awesome! What a beast! I like how you can see the shadow of the DC-10 on the mountain.

[sabu85]

Holy crap! How much retardant can this huge thing drop at once?

[lmsasquatch]

12,000. I went up to see it the other day!

[SpenzOT]

amazing! Seeing such a massive airplane flying that low is always a sight to behold.

[Shalinar45]

Yeah, Rose...a 500,00 POUND plane going much lower than anything that big has any SENSE being...

[rosethewriter3]

big deal...it's a plane. Like we haven't seen any before!

[darccat1955]

You know Rose, sometimes if you don't have anything good to say, it is best to say nothing at all. One thing I am sure of it is a plane like you have never seen outside your monitor.

[bryonsingl]

Just to let you know that isn't just a plane. its a 1960s aircraft that has been modified to drop approximately 12000gal of fire retardant in approximately 9sec if that isn't enough then take a closer look the it's 180ft wide and 200ft long and is at an altitude of about 500ft one wrong move could be disaster.

[bryonsingl]

Furthermore; this is the first jumbo jet to be fully contracted to fly these kind of missions. the 747 was certified and tried but it was not as effective as this one. It has been in use sense 2005 and has aided in every CA wild fire sense. So is that just another airplane to you or is it a marvel of engineering, and a life saver.

[lmsasquatch]

got a problem?!

[lmsasquatch]

You are a blithering asshole, rosethewanker3.

[TripleZ89]

Holy Toledo!!!!!!

[deanx2009]

holy toast!

[32574]

holy macarena!!!!!

[diehardDanny]

Holy kamoli !!

[65CA]

That is impressive. Nice tight drop pattern. FEDEX loves those DC10s/MD11s. This could be another place they shine.

[palealien]

Thanks! This is the coolest thing I have seen. Living in a hugely high-risk fire area, (and presently enduring the outfall of the Moonlight fire) it's like watching a superhero at work.