Phoenix forest fires

[Espada III]

The BBC news report BBC News - In pictures: Arizona wildfire (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23123961) show a photo of a DC-10 dropping coloured water(?) over the fires. That's a large plane in a confined and low visibility area.

Does anyone have more information about the plane, its crew and what they were dropping?

Thanks

[DX Wombat]

As the aircraft isn't dropping the fluid over the fire maybe it is a fire-retardant solution.

[pilotms]

Here you find find more information about the DC-10 Tanker Aircraft:
DC-10 Air Tanker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC-10_Air_Tanker)

[Need to Know Basis]

Does anyone know if the Evergreen Supertanker is syill flying ? Converted B747F-200 ?

[Espada III]

Thanks for the info.

[thetimesreader84]

Yes, the red "coloured water" is fire retardant, it's dropped (usually) in a line ahead of the advancing fire to slow and control the direction of the fire, or to try to channel it away from buildings, etc. The doors on the belly tank of the fire bomber aircraft are computer controlled to only open enough to allow a particular (pilot selectable) flow rate out of the tank, allowing the fire bomber to lay down a line of retardant.

The 747 supertanker has been approved for use, apparantly;

http://www.evergreenaviation.com/pdf/Supertanker_Statement_061413.pdf

TTR