Air Trankers for 2018-19 Season

[Greg Hyde]

Air Tanker 165 (C-GVFK) Boomer was given a demo for the press at Richmond this morning.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGVFK

https://www.9news.com.au/2018/08/31/12/44/nsw-bushfire-battle-weapon-boomer-rfs-plane

Word is that there will be 4 air tankers operating this summer.

Greg

[lloyd fox]

AND mayby a new aircraft type as well!:D

[Brenden S]

3 RJ85's, 2 hercs and a B744 for the heavy hitters this year. Along with the usual S-64E's and fly in B212's and 412's

[Brian Hoy]

I think the B744 will be a Coulson B733

[Brian Hoy]

T134 the bare metal finished C130 is on it's way to YSRI

[MarkR]

I think the B744 will be a Coulson B733

http://www.ausjet.com.au/Supertanker.html

N744ST has proved herself in recent times in California.

[Brian Hoy]

But don't let it get to low.(https://fireaviation.com/tag/747/)

[Brenden S]

1 RJ85 at Richmond
1 RJ85 at Dubbo
1 B733 at Richmond
1 C130 at Richmond

1 RJ85 at Avalon
1 C130 at Avalon
1 B744 at Avalon

That is the info I have at hand at the moment.
S-64's yet to be announced, but most likely 2 at Bankstown.

[lloyd fox]

T134 the bare metal finished C130 is on it's way to YSRI

Landed today i believe.:)

[MarkR]

1 RJ85 at Richmond
1 RJ85 at Dubbo
1 B733 at Richmond
1 C130 at Richmond

1 RJ85 at Avalon
1 C130 at Avalon
1 B744 at Avalon

That is the info I have at hand at the moment.
S-64's yet to be announced, but most likely 2 at Bankstown.

The victorian government have not contracted a VLAT this year, and have put on two C130s going by this announcement

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/a-bigger-and-better-firefighting-fleet-for-victoria/

NSW has supposedly got four LATs due by November

[David C]

S64 , N176AC arrived at Bankstown today from MEB via WGA .
Dave C

[Greg Hyde]

From Skyliners

Boeing 737 -3H4 27700 2759 N137CG Coulson Flying Tankers posn 08-10nov18 RTS-SMX-ITO-YSRI, NSW Rural Fire Service titles ex N617SW

[MarkR]

Bomber 166 RJ85 is in action in the hunter after jumping out of Dubbo this morning.

[Kent Broadhead]

The 737 was used on the Campvale fire yesterday - video on the RFS facebook page

[Greg Hyde]

Looks like the RJ85 has done several laps to Salt Ash & back to Richmond.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGVFK

The Salt Ash is a problematic for ground based crews as it swampy and there is a RAAF Live Fire Range in the area. Things that go bang with fire.

Best of luck to all the crews.

[lloyd fox]

The 737 was used on the Campvale fire yesterday - video on the RFS facebook page

It flew to ROK yesterday for the QLD bush fires .

[Greg Hyde]

B737 working fires nth of Bundy.

Reportedly 7 trips to the fire ground today.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N137CG

[MarkR]

B737 working fires nth of Bundy.

Reportedly 7 trips to the fire ground today.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N137CG

Interesting that she is based out of Rok rather than Gladstone, Hervey Bay or Bundaberg, which all have 737 capable strips. Must have some interesting performance graphs.

[MarkR]

Looks like the RJ85 has done several laps to Salt Ash & back to Richmond.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGVFK

The Salt Ash is a problematic for ground based crews as it swampy and there is a RAAF Live Fire Range in the area. Things that go bang with fire.

Best of luck to all the crews.

The RJ85 is now headed to ROK ex Richmond with the 737 seemingly gone tech, while another RJ85 ex Dubbo is also now in ROK

[Greg Hyde]

Pictures of fire fighting a/c in Rocky

http://cqplanespotting.blogspot.com/

[MarkR]

The RJ85 is now headed to ROK ex Richmond with the 737 seemingly gone tech, while another RJ85 ex Dubbo is also now in ROK

Things are pretty dynamic with the fires at present as you would expect, the ex Richmond bomber didnt heat to ROK but instead landed at Amberly this morning

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGVFK

While the 737 positioned to Mackay last night.

[Greg Hyde]

NSW to acquire its own large air tanker

The New South Wales state government plans to acquire its own large air tanker (LAT), which will be the first of its kind to be permanently based in Australia.

Until now both the NSW and Victorian state governments have leased air tankers from overseas – six are currently in Australia for the 2018-19 fire season comprising one Boeing 737, two Lockheed C-130s and three Avro RJ85s.

Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said NSW would acquire its own LAT as well as two fixed-wing “scanning aircraft”.

“This major funding injection will fortify our fleet into the future and provide year-round long-range aerial firefighting capabilities to complement our existing aviation resources,” Grant said on November 16 (we missed the announcement at the time, but thought it still worth reporting on – Ed).

“With longer bushfire seasons comes the increasing threat of severe fires, which is why the NSW government is leading the way by providing our firies with the very best resources to help protect lives and properties.”

The LAT would also be available for other state government jurisdictions to use, Grant said.

Full Story

http://australianaviation.com.au/2018/12/nsw-to-acquire-its-own-large-air-tanker/

[Brian Hoy]

The RJ (N366AC) based at Richmond left the country headed home today, got to wonder who works out the contacts! still a lot of fire season ahead.

[MarkR]

The RJ (N366AC) based at Richmond left the country headed home today, got to wonder who works out the contacts! still a lot of fire season ahead.

Could be a maintinence issue with a replacement inbound?

[Brenden S]

Pilot training in the states, that is why it went back.

[Brian Hoy]

bmr134 (Coulson c130,,,The rat rod) dept YSRI for Norfolk Island this morning.. 15/03/2019