Dash 8 Waterbomber?

[Lost in Saigon]

Wings are not strong enough to sustain such treatment years after years. Apparently, 1 season of water bombing=7years of age.

I used to waterbomb on Canso's in the 80's. Granted the Canso appears to be one big, tough old bird, but I tend to disagree with your statement.

For one thing, air tankers don't put on many hours in a year. And the hours they do put on really are not very demanding.

When you drop the load you check forward on the wheel and there is no G-loading. A few bumps around the fire area from updrafts and such are no worse then "regular" turbulance..

So why is there such a stigma around aerial tankers?.

[TG]

Might be only because of the last couple of inflight breakup ?

http://www.nvlt.org/archief/accidents_r ... r_safe.htm

The Privateer that lost its left wing and a C-130A that had both wings separate belonged to Hawkins & Powers Aviation of Greybull, Wyo. Both aircraft were considered rugged airframes. "The guys that operate the PB4Y say that thing is an absolute tank, and they're flabbergasted that anything like this could happen," said William R. Broadwell, executive director of the Aerial Firefighting Industry Assn. The group represents nine of the 10 U.S. companies that operate fire bombers.

I didn't include the French Securite Civile CL-415's tail separation during a drop (they are talking about a hard water landing that might be done before)

Not here to star a p!ss!ng contest, I'm just wondering myself.

[Lost in Saigon]

You prove my point.

Those incidents probably happened because of poor maintainance.

AND THEY HAPPENED TO SO CALLED RUGGED AIRCRAFT.

I think the Dash-8 would make a fine tanker aircraft

[xsbank]

Oh boy now I'm going to be havin' trouble sleeping again. A Firecat is NOT a STOL a/c, and I would hope that you are going downhill when you see 95 knots. You are so far into the scary area that you better have lots of air below you. Ever do one of those runs and screw it up and have to carry the load around again? Notice what happens to the SMI when you pour the coals to it to level off? Only thing worse than its slow speed handling is its brakes, and I actually like the Firecat.

They're only trees, right?

[Caracrane]

TG you"re totally wrong with the 415 in France. The a/c dove for a spot on the bottom of a hill and pulled too late, hit the tail and a/c broke in 2 pieces. Lost in Saigon, my father laughed at your comments when he read it behind my shoulders. He's retired after a 48 years carreer but still has about 35 years in Cansos, 215 and 215T and says why there was not much turbulence was because you were probably only circling around the fire never attacking the head etc... anyway TG if you want pictures from the France 415, I got pictures that were sent to us by friends flying 215/415 in Italy and Turkey and those pictures were taken by a guy beside the hills at the time this event actually occured, you just have to pm me and i'll send it to you. If you'd see how those are built, it is almost impossible for a in-flight break-up Eric

[CLguy]

Lost in Saigon you said an aircraft only sustains a "few bumps" around a fire. Man, obviously you have never been through the head of a fire. Where is all your bombing experience from, the tail of the fire? Aircraft that are engaged in Initial Attack on a forest fire sustain a pounding and not every aircraft is up to the task.

I have seen compass correction cards come right out of their holders because of the "few bumps" the aircraft took around a fire. I seen guys with bruises on their shoulders after a rough day because of the shoulder harnesses locking them in their seat.

The Dash 8 will probably do all right because it will only be dropping retardent and from my experience retardent aircraft usually only build line alone the fire and don't actually attack the flames like the Scoopers do.

[TG]

oops! 180 turn, thanks Caracrane for correcting my old rumor.
and check PM