Formation ambhibs over France yesterday?

[TBM850]

Does anyone know who is the operator of the flying boats operating over Nice? Fr., yesterday. They were large twin turbo props, I think Doniers or something and I beleive they could have been fire bombers. There were four in formation. Just curious,....

[airship]

The French Sécurité Civile operates Canadair (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair) (CL-215 and CL-416) water-bombers for use in fire-fighting. At this time of year several units are usually based at Cannes-Mandelieu airport. They will sometimes conduct training operations in the somewhat sheltered waters between Cannes and the Iles de Lérins or else in the Baie des Anges "just under" a standard approach for airliners into Nice. It's always inspiring to watch them...! ;)

[cwatters]

The French Sécurité Civile operates Canadair (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair) (CL-215 and CL-416) water-bombers for use in fire-fighting. At this time of year several units are usually based at Cannes-Mandelieu airport. They will sometimes conduct training operations in the somewhat sheltered waters between Cannes and the Iles de Lérins - always worth watching?! ;)

Some years ago when we were camping in the south of France we had to be evacuated to the beach because a forest fire cut off the road from the camp site. The water bombers picked up sea water from the bay and flew over us to drop it on the fire. Very impressive....as was the speed with which all the small sailing boats got out of the way!

[rotornut]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=232618

[wasdale]

ambhib????

[airship]

I just realised that it's not the CL-215/415s etc. that are sometimes based at Cannes-Mandelieu in summertime but the smaller Grumman US-2B/Conair Turbo Firecat (G-89 (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0623589/M/)). The bigger ones are based at Marseilles-Marignane!