Dramatic photos of the DC-10 in action near Fawnskin, California for the Butler ll fire which is described as the number one fire in the U.S. at present. Governor Swartzeneger has declared a state of emergncy to cover this fire. The town has been evacuated, the last time this took place was the Willow fire in 2003. A P2V tanker burst a tyre on landing today and caused the closure of Fox Field, one of the fire tankers bases.
http://socalmountains.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?30031 You can/may also hear the Big Bear scanner active on this link.
Edit plus. A single engine plane connected with the fire crashed on Monday in Big Bear with no injuries reported.
Edit plus. 2. The aircraft was a Piper Pawnee and is a suspected forced landing due to engine failure.
By: J Boyle - 19th September 2007 at 18:22
Just read in Aviation Week that the firm is looking to convert their stored DC-10-30 (ex Continental).
The water/slush hatches will require removal of the center main gear.
BTW: Wonder if the increased GW of the -30 will still be allowed if they remove the gear? Not enough of an engineer or DC-10 fan to know.
By: Newforest - 18th September 2007 at 17:57
Sorry to correct you but it was not a Piper (they are not used as SEAT– Single Engine Air Tankers– beacuse they are not turbine powered and are too small) it was an Air Tractor.
All corrections welcomed in the interests of accuracy, thanks!:)
Photo of the Air Tractor, does that look like a write off? Also a photo of the fire covering my house (that I sold three years ago!):D
By: J Boyle - 18th September 2007 at 17:24
Edit plus. A single engine plane connected with the fire crashed on Monday in Big Bear with no injuries reported.
Edit plus. 2. The aircraft was a Piper Pawnee and is a suspected forced landing due to engine failure.
Sorry to correct you but it was not a Piper (they are not used as SEAT– Single Engine Air Tankers– beacuse they are not turbine powered and are too small) it was an Air Tractor.
Here’s the early FAA report:
Regis#: 91357 Make/Model: AT80 Description: AIR TRACTOR AT-802A
Date: 09/17/2007 Time: 2010
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: BIG BEAR CITY State: CA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE
ON A FIRE FIGHTING MISSION, NEAR BIG BEAR CITY, CA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Other Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: RIVERSIDE, CA (WP21) Entry date: 09/18/2007
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September 17, 2007 at 6:15 pm