NEPTUNE Water bomber
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Join Date: Dec 1998
Location: Australia
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NEPTUNE Water bomber
We have a Neptune water bomber that now has a very colourful paint scheme which is parked at Perth domestic airport. It just sits and does nothing every fire season, anybody know why it couldn't assist with fire fighting throughout W.A., NSW or Vic ??
Join Date: Oct 2000
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it doesn't have any tanks, and nobody wants to pay for it, as well as not really being the right tool for the job, too long a turn around beteen loads, and the limited number of airports that it could work from.A large number of ag planes is much better in the FW department.
Probably nobody in Oz rated to fly it anyhow.
Probably nobody in Oz rated to fly it anyhow.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Nulla
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Probably only a small amount of pilots endorsed on type in Oz and they would have to have low level approval etc. Cost to much to run maybe??. Is the a/c servicable? No doubt a long list of CASA red tape rubbish to wade through as well. Maybe if they start trying to get it going now then we could use it in the 2010 fires.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Ah the Erickson Air-Crane - reading off the Nine MSN site they interviewed a rep. from the company in the States. He (you can imagine him saying this in a classic car salesman pitch) said there was one of the type sitting out the front of his hangar right now, ready to go. He also said they would have no trouble sourcing another one in a few days and could have them on an Antonov and in Sydney within 4-6 days.
Of course this won't happen - the Federal and State Govts. would decide to jointly fund the operation and then CASA will interject the process with their trademark BS.
It would be nice to see something work logically for a change. You'd think someone with the power of approval would think 'if one air-crane can get those results, imagine what three or four could do'
I won't hold my breath.
Shaablamm - you better not be spotting the fires in 2010
I intend to pissed as a newt with you on a layover somewhere in Europe.
Of course this won't happen - the Federal and State Govts. would decide to jointly fund the operation and then CASA will interject the process with their trademark BS.
It would be nice to see something work logically for a change. You'd think someone with the power of approval would think 'if one air-crane can get those results, imagine what three or four could do'
I won't hold my breath.
Shaablamm - you better not be spotting the fires in 2010
I intend to pissed as a newt with you on a layover somewhere in Europe.
