Fire bombers???

Randie - You got it bud! I have to wait until I get back home though, on the 23rd. I'll try to put it all together for you. There were three articles in all about firefighting in the northwest over this last summer. I'll photo copy them ans snail them to you, along with scanned pics from the AvWeek mag, which I may send by email as an attachment. Which picture format would you prefer?
Will email you more about this next week.

stinger

Hi gang

Just to let you know that the Heller CL-415 has a number of "challenges" in store for you. Much of the kit is the older CL-215 parts. A quick summery of the major issues are:
- nacelles too widely spaced and nacelles lack "down" thrust angle
- flight compartment side consoles, bulkhead, and instrument panel glareshied are for a CL-215
- nose gear lacks steering actuator
-aerodynamic bullet at H-stab and V-stab intersection is wrong shape

Check your referances before you start! This one's going to take a bit of work.

Thanks, Stinger. And thanks Stan. I've got quite a few pics of the -415 and now that I know the problem areas I'll be sure and use them to their full advantage.
Again, thanks to ALL who have responded to this post. I thought I was the only one with the fire bomber bug!!

Randie

Kik36.
I watched those P2s and P3s flying from Minden this last summer while I was getting my '74 Ford 4wd van ready to make the pilgrimage back to Oklahoma. As a matter of fact, I watched them fighting a big brushfire where Hwy. 50 intersects with 395 just south of Carson City. Awesome display. They were also using crop dusters on that fire. That was something I had never seen or heard of. Take care.

Randie

I read an article in an aviation magazine recently that said the US Navy would be looking for a replacement for the S-3 Viking in the next ten years or so.

Can you visualize an S-3 rigged up for fire killing? I hope they consider the Viking for the job when the time comes.

UPNORTH!
You ain't gonna believe this @#*%!!! I was looking through my filing cabinet today and ran across the instruction sheet for the 1/48 S-3A'
I was thinking, "this would look cool in the firebomber scheme. Flaps down, rolling in slow like they were tracking a sub and ZAP!! Dump there retardant on the fire."
I may just try that. I've got a couple of those kits. Why not??
Anyway, good modelling to all and Merry Christmas!!!!

Randie

Hey, if it works out post pictures, I'd love to see it.

Merry Christmas!

UPNORTH!!!!!
Just thought you might be interested in a quote from the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of WARBIRDS INTERNATIONAL. The article is "Bombers at War". It is about firebombers.
Here is the quote. "The USFS is considering operating the Lockheed S-3 Viking.
About 100 S-3 airframes will become available as the type is retired over the next few years. Also, a Douglas DC-10-10 has been tanked and has conducted some initial test drops. This aircraft is capable of carrying 12,000- to 14,000-gal. loads. ALso, a Boeing 747 is currently being tanked but it will be interesting to see how these machines perform in the violent, low-level and relatively slow environment of today's fire bombers."
Should be interesting to see how they work!!!
On to the S-3 project!!!!

Randie

heres a couple of reference books that you may want to check out,

skytruck and skytruck2 by the late Stephen Piercey and douglas dc3 the survivors by Kengo Yamamoto, the latter hasnt got any firebombers in but it is an exellent reference book for the DC3 and has the Bastler turbo daks in too.

the skytruck books have loads of old warbird and big prop stuff doing everything, from a B17 used to freight raw meat to crop spraying constalations, a firebombing privateer to a DC4 used as a bar (mmmm beer). hope you find this useful. Greg

Hey, chopperfan:

Looks like I got your attention with the S-3 comment :-)

I think that would be a great lease on life for the Viking after its military days are done with.

I can't visualize a 747 doing water drops. I would think the turbulence at such low levels and the pressure of keeping it low enough to be practical at firekilling against the updraft from the fire would mike for a very short lifespan on such a big airframe.

I'd like to get my hands on one of the TOKO 1/72 Antonov 72 "Coaler" kits and see if I can get enough information on the fire killer variant of it to do a correct conversion on it.

If I'd been thinking of fire bombers when I saw Revell Germany's reissue of Frog's 1/72 Avro Shackleton MR.3 a few years back, I'd have scooped the kit up and tried to make a fire killer out of it. Was the Shack ever used for fire killing? If not, its unfortunate, it probably would have done the job well.

I'd like to see them rig up a C-2 Greyhound for fire bombing.

A BAe Jetstream would also be intresting to see in that role, I see them all the time with those bolt on luggage containers under them and think what a short hop it would be from that to a retardant tank.

Never say never!!!
We were just talking about a "what-if" scenario and it looks like it could happen.
Hmmmmmm, let's see. An S-3 firebomber with an A-37 spotter plane????
I'm visualizing the diorama as I type!!!
Talk to y'all later! I got diagrams to draw!!!!

Randie