I'm assuming that the DC10 or 747 then has to return to airfield X, upload another 12,000/24,000 gallons of water, restart, depart and fly to the scene again? How many drops can the smaller 3000gallon a/c make in that time?
You'd need a bloody big loch for a 747 to fly along and uptake a few thousand gallons
Interesting none the less, be a sight to see 24,000 gallons of water fall from the sky in a few seconds.
Nice video ASFKAP, What a bloody big contrail that APU is making