Er.....
Hitting the fire on Wed. arvo or Thursday...all day ?
When it hit parts of Waroona, it was already 'bad', and being pushed WSW by the very gusty ENE. (Broadly speaking). Lots of sudden wind changes within the fire zone took it in most directions.
Sad!
p.s. It is very easy to be an 'armchair critic' after the event.
However, the apparent aversion to the use of 'heavy assets', like the C-130 type which we already own and have fully paid for, even the older models which we 'donate' to other countries like Indonesia, when they could have a valuable use HERE!
Subject to the usual airframe limitations / issues etc, it has already been said above that the C-130 type was 'super effective' in another theatre.
It does not have to get down 'in the weeds'. The turb. / vis etc would prohibit that, but surely it has the capacity to drop 'packages' of water / retardant on rollers out thru the back door from a 'reasonably safe' altitude onto the leading 'hotspots' of the fire whilst remaining clear of the main smoke column?
No, I am not a Herc pilot, but if is able to be done elsewhere, then why not here...?
Cheers
Last edited by Ex FSO GRIFFO; 11th Jan 2016 at 06:09.