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Fire Aviation-2


The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized aviators. This is the begining of a series showing a helicopter approaching a water drop located in a gravel pit to load its bambi bucket, the collapsible bucket slung under the helicopter, with water from a large collapsible container known as a pumpkin.
02cs1763 		The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized aviators. This is the begining of a series showing a helicopter approaching a water drop located in a gravel pit to load its bambi bucket, the collapsible bucket slung under the helicopter, with water from a large collapsible container known as a pumpkin.
02cs1765 		The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized aviators. This is the begining of a series showing a helicopter approaching a water drop located in a gravel pit to load its bambi bucket, the collapsible bucket slung under the helicopter, with water from a large collapsible container known as a pumpkin.
02cs1766 		The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized aviators. This is the begining of a series showing a helicopter approaching a water drop located in a gravel pit to load its bambi bucket, the collapsible bucket slung under the helicopter, with water from a large collapsible container known as a pumpkin.
02cs1767
The pilots involved in wild land fire fighting are a small group of highly specialized aviators. This is the begining of a series showing a helicopter approaching a water drop located in a gravel pit to load its bambi bucket, the collapsible bucket slung under the helicopter, with water from a large collapsible container known as a pumpkin.
02cs1769 		A Sikorsky S61 heavy helicopter drops water on a hot spot during the Cache Mountain Fire, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon. Helicopters are an excellent resource for combating wild fires, they are capable of transporting large amounts of water quickly from local water sources to be used on spot fires or continuously attacking a hot spot to assist ground crews in areas too hot to handle.
02cs1778 		Helicopter operations fighting forest fires with retardant are able to load from remote retardant plants where the retardant can be prepared with water from local water sources or tanker trucks.
02cs1786 		Low-level helicopter operations occur in heavy smoke where hazards (e.g., trees, snags, antennas, visibility, turbulence, and other aircraft) increase the risk level significantly. A large part of the success of a helicopter mission is the result of good communications between the pilot and the user on the ground. Accurate target and hazard descriptions are essential to a safe mission.
02cs1780
The Proteus, a versatile rough terrain fire fighting vehicle takes on water from a heavy helicopter in a remote location. The Proteus has the proven ability to reach and perform on ground in remote inaccessible locations. The vehicle is excellent for, Front line fire suppression, Fire line placement, Fire line control, burnouts, mop-up, water transfers, and prescribed burn control.
02cs1781 		The amount of land area covered by retardant drops is determined by the Incident Command Team or the air attack lead plane will suggest coverage level. Heavier fuels - heavier coverage, lighter fuels - lighter coverage.
02cs1818 		Russ Quimby a loader at the Redmond Interagency Air Center in Redmond, Oregon loads a Lockheed SP2H with 2000 gallons of retardant used for fire suppression.
02cs1820 		Russ Quimby (right) and another employee load a Lockheed SP2H with 2000 gallons of retardant used for fire suppression at the Redmond Interagency Air Center in Redmond, Oregon.
02cs1822
The Redmond Interagency Air Center is capable of loading aircraft with retardant at a rate of 500 gallons per minute. A plane able to hold 3000 gallons can be loaded in six minutes. A mixing station insures proper mixture before being transferred to the aircraft via 30 horse power pumps. Two airplanes can be loaded simultaneously.
02cs1823 		The Redmond Interagency Air Center is capable of loading aircraft with retardant at a rate of 500 gallons per minute. A plane able to hold 3000 gallons can be loaded in six minutes. A mixing station insures proper mixture before being transferred to the aircraft via 30 horse power pumps. Two airplanes can be loaded simultaneously.
02cs1824 		The Redmond Interagency Air Center is capable of loading aircraft with retardant at a rate of 500 gallons per minute. A plane able to hold 3000 gallons can be loaded in six minutes. A mixing station insures proper mixture before being transferred to the aircraft via 30 horse power pumps. Two airplanes can be loaded simultaneously.
02cs1826 		The Redmond Interagency Air Center is capable of loading aircraft with retardant at a rate of 500 gallons per minute. A plane able to hold 3000 gallons can be loaded in six minutes. A mixing station insures proper mixture before being transferred to the aircraft via 30 horse power pumps. Two airplanes can be loaded simultaneously.
02cs1827

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