single engine firefighting
Tanks vs buckets.
Well they're different tools.
Tanks are far better in urban interface and also when the smoke lays over.
Buckets are faster to fill and more access to smaller water sources when on a longline.
Then there's also contract requirements fore multi-role ships i.e. Rappel/bombing, then tanks make sense in that instance. NVG bombing - tanks.
So there's no real answer as to which one is better.
Well they're different tools.
Tanks are far better in urban interface and also when the smoke lays over.
Buckets are faster to fill and more access to smaller water sources when on a longline.
Then there's also contract requirements fore multi-role ships i.e. Rappel/bombing, then tanks make sense in that instance. NVG bombing - tanks.
So there's no real answer as to which one is better.
A good video by Columbia Helicopters that explains the various methods, buckets, and techniques they use with the Chinook and BV-107.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr5-2BZgZjY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr5-2BZgZjY
Join Date: May 2008
Location: St Johns, Newfoundland,Canada
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Give me AS 350 B2 or B3 and 130ft longline over a 205/212 any day, turns a lot faster . Good bucket pilot can do same as CL 415 if water close. Although the CL's very impressive . We use 240 gal on B2 and the Fast bucket a la multi droop capability on B3.we got 2-3 machines manning up on IA right now. Was offered a seat in a AS350 yesterday. Unfortunately had to say no as been out 5 weeks already, and going forestry spraying in a week. Told the project manager I got grass to cut wife to see and most all my little man puppy to spend quality time with. Also St John's the happening place right now, full tourists ,Regatta today, George Street festival, Our Lady Peace tonite on the open air stage....bugger flight delayed now due in at 4am....just as bars closing. Hey Ho....Oh and the boss is having to fly 205 in Quebec for Sopfeu....all good no spare drivers....things looking up in our part of world anyways. Hey Gordy man, let me know next time in UK.ill meet ya in Wheatsheaf in Louth for catch up. Be safe man.
Last edited by newfieboy; 4th Aug 2016 at 02:21. Reason: Bloody spelling....happens sitting in Pearson International bored drinking Beer....
Horses for courses!
Tanks don't restrict your category of operation WRT bomb/rappel as mentioned.
You can carry water a long way with a tank without losing 15-20% of your water as a bucket will.
The look on the bird dog BO105 pilot when I overlook him in a 205 with a full tank in Spain was funny!
It can depend on the region - i.e. Tanks in Spain (Catalunya) worked well but not so much in France as we had to
carry a buoy wall all the time as the French leave the trees alongside watercourses.
Tanks with restrictors and a split drop are great on grass fires - drop at about 100 knots! Because you can.
Worked alongside a KA32 in Oz with a big bucket and it was not so effective as the fire line there is not always so straight.
Consequence of a great gut load of water limited to a single drop.
Amazing machine but the downwash would drop pretty big trees even with a longline.
The bucket wasn't something you just folded up and threw in the boot either - and of course the issue with underslung in an urban area.
Tanks that I used were Conair/Frontier system - about as complicated as a Jet Banger!!
About a 40 second fill time which is significant as per SAS's video although it helps if you don't stick it in the mud!
When it all turns to custard the best machine I have seen is yellow with CAT on the side!!
That plus a torch to light up behind it. It can only burn once. But I digress...............
If I was a house owner under threat of a fire the last thing I would do before leaving is ring burn the joint! But that's possibly "illegal".
Did about 1200 hours with buckets and about 750 with tanks and then moved on....................
Tanks don't restrict your category of operation WRT bomb/rappel as mentioned.
You can carry water a long way with a tank without losing 15-20% of your water as a bucket will.
The look on the bird dog BO105 pilot when I overlook him in a 205 with a full tank in Spain was funny!
It can depend on the region - i.e. Tanks in Spain (Catalunya) worked well but not so much in France as we had to
carry a buoy wall all the time as the French leave the trees alongside watercourses.
Tanks with restrictors and a split drop are great on grass fires - drop at about 100 knots! Because you can.
Worked alongside a KA32 in Oz with a big bucket and it was not so effective as the fire line there is not always so straight.
Consequence of a great gut load of water limited to a single drop.
Amazing machine but the downwash would drop pretty big trees even with a longline.
The bucket wasn't something you just folded up and threw in the boot either - and of course the issue with underslung in an urban area.
Tanks that I used were Conair/Frontier system - about as complicated as a Jet Banger!!
About a 40 second fill time which is significant as per SAS's video although it helps if you don't stick it in the mud!
When it all turns to custard the best machine I have seen is yellow with CAT on the side!!
That plus a torch to light up behind it. It can only burn once. But I digress...............
If I was a house owner under threat of a fire the last thing I would do before leaving is ring burn the joint! But that's possibly "illegal".
Did about 1200 hours with buckets and about 750 with tanks and then moved on....................
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Canada
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Truck burning
Fire season is just about over, we take whatever shows up and with a single engine heli.
Brakes caught fire. Making sure the fire would not end up in the trees and while we are there may as well save the truck.
JD
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1lGeRkc8_4
Brakes caught fire. Making sure the fire would not end up in the trees and while we are there may as well save the truck.
JD
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1lGeRkc8_4
