Boeing 744 Super Air Tanker grounded

[TBM-Legend]

The B747 extra large air tanker has failed to meet the performance standards set by US Govt department and the investors have pulled the pin. Most commentators on here about converting aircraft in Australia for aerial firefighting have no idea the complexity of the design, construction and operation of such beasts.

​​​​​https://airwaysmag.com/special-flights/boeing-747-supertanker-ceases-ops/

[Australopithecus]

What a confused article. What does India’s covid crisis have to do with the US Bureau of Indian Affairs?
And what does the Bureau of Indian Affairs have to do with flight standards?

[TBM-Legend]

Here's your answer...

​​​​​​https://www.bia.gov/sites/bia.gov/files/assets/bia/ots/dfwfm/bwf/aviation/NatAvnPlan_2017_ver_2017-05-18_final_508.pdf

[alfaman]

Strange to contrast what (in my very uninformed opinion!) seem relatively minor glitches to an otherwise very effect weapon in the battle to reduce the damage fires cause, with the endless stream of cash which gets thrown at military projects such as the F35 Raptor? I appreciate the two are entirely different, but does make me wonder about our human priorities, sometimes...

[TBM-Legend]

The B747 is very difficult to operate given its runway and parking limitation and the big infrastructure to operate it. It also is not a very good applicant which requires accuracy not volume. Cost is another big factor. Why hasn't there been many converted if they're so good?

[Australopithecus]

TBM, while I understand that the BIA has input into what happens on much Federal land in the US, I am surprised that the Forest Service does not have overriding authority. While I appreciate the BIA's concerns about trailing retardant (not really), I do understand that the aircraft has been fitted with a new digital release system to address that issue. Anyway...there were obvious issues, and as you say, the 747 has a niche role in firefighting.

The timely and precise delivery of retardant early in a fire has always been important rather than massive drops. But when a fire really gets going and starts sweeping down on houses you do need something large augmented by more agile follow-up delivery. By the time you need it though, its too late to call...it needs to be orbiting overhead.

Too bad about the loss of the capability.

[Bksmithca]

According to the CNN article the investors are grounding it simply because it's not making enough profit and will take too long to payoff there investment.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/28/weather/global-supertanker-wildfire-grounded-trnd-scn-wx/index.html