I was up at Reno/Stead airport, home of the National Championship Airraces today and there is a rather large wildfire burning about 5 miles off the end of the runway. Fortunately the airport is home to the local air fire brigade. The P-2 had just shut down after about 4 hours of work. Each sortie lasted about 10 minutes from takeoff to forming up on the spotter plane to dropping the Borate to landing back at Stead for a refill.
Also do to the temperature (about 103F) it was a bit of a struggle to get the bird up!
By: Gary Cain - 18th July 2009 at 07:57
Newforest,
THAT is a hell of a shot!
By: Gary Cain - 18th July 2009 at 07:56
Yes they had two P-3s and two P-2s working the fire. It was pretty awesome seeing them turn them that quickly. As the day warmed up the P-2s kept sinking lower and lower on takeoff. The Orions though were having no problem.
Cheers
Thanks for posting those Gary…are they Lockheed P-3 Orion’s in the first shot???
By: Newforest - 18th July 2009 at 07:36
My favourite firebomber photo.:)
By: steve rowell - 18th July 2009 at 05:45
Thanks for posting those Gary…are they Lockheed P-3 Orion’s in the first shot???
By: benyboy - 18th July 2009 at 03:20
Thank you for the pics. I love fire bombers. It just seems to me like one of the most exciting jobs in the world and they save us a few historic aeroplanes too.
Sign In
July 18, 2009 at 1:10 am