Tronosjet Maintenance BAe 146-200 Airtanker First Drop

[mcoffin]

On October 28th, 2009 this photo was taken of the prototype BAe 146-200 Airtanker. The aircraft holds 3000gallons and is in the final stages of the FAA STC process. Photo was taken off the north shore of Prince Edward Island.

[niss]

Nausea - Heartburn - Indigestion - Upset Stomach - Diarreah

[Driving Rain]

Hear is some video of a 100 series 146 that's been ballest to simulate a tanked aircraft. The aircraft pictured in the drop photo above is a 200 series. I hope with the 200 series BAE doesn't mean "bring another engine" like it did with the first batch.

http://www.tronosjet.com/firefighting.php

This tanker shows some great promise with numbers like this.
Key features of the BAe 146 AirTanker:

Water / retardant capacity: 3,000 USG
Range: 2,700km / 1,200 nm
Turn-around time: 8 minutes
typical drop speed / altitude: 120 knots @ 150 feet (200km/h @ 46 meters)
Cruise speed: 330 knots (600 km/h)
Fast fill / Variable flow delivery system
Short take-off length and steep field approach
Air-brake / flap combination: improves low speed maneouvrability

[Tim]

I've seen a few of these tankers on the rare occaisions I'm into Summerside. I had no idea they were being converted to tankers though. Sure could use a paint job!

[linecrew]

...smurfy!

[North Shore]

Looks good so far.



Now, put some probes on it, and make it into a real airtanker!

[flyinggreasemonkey]

so I take it that these style of air tankers (as opposed to the drop and scoop 215\415) are used for areas that do not have practical access to a sufficient body of water?
Seems the takeoff-drop-land-refill process is an exercise in futility in terms of getting a fire out ASAP.

[fougner]

.

[The Mole]

Water / retardant capacity: 3,000 USG
Range: 2,700km / 1,200 nm
"""" Turn-around time: 8 minutes """
typical drop speed / altitude: 120 knots @ 150 feet (200km/h @ 46 meters)
Cruise speed: 330 knots (600 km/h)
Fast fill / Variable flow delivery system
Short take-off length and steep field approach
Air-brake / flap combination: improves low speed maneouvrability



Really, 8min turn around. I kinda doubt that.

[xsbank]

That's about right for the re-load time - taxi back and forth to the active takes longer. Long term works, especially in the mountains. Water only works when the source is near the fire.

Simple.

4 engines for that load=too expensive to maintain. I'll bet it won't sell. Compare it to a Convair....

[Check Pilot]

Ah yes, a waaaaay better use for the (take your pick):

Viscount 900, Smurfjet with 5 APU's, The Gas Chamber, Bumble-et, Baby Jumbo, Bring Another Engine, 1-4-Sick, submarine- low slow and out of sight, Airborne Auschwitz, Tonka Toy, 4 oil leaks connected by an electrical fault, The Quadra-Puff, Lead Sled, Mini Galaxy, Sky Dozer, Fisher Price 747, "1 aeroplane, 4 engines, needs 6", The Slug, Toxic Terror, Muffler (Because all the noise is on the inside), Fruit Bat, Flying cockroach

After all, why buy the best when you can buy British.

[skytramp2800]

let's see...

Typical design weights*
Maximum Take-off Weight: 44,225 Kg 97,500 lbs
Maximum Landing Weight: 38,329 Kg 84,500 lbs
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight: 36,515 Kg 80,500 lbs
Typical Operating Weight Empty: 24,800 Kg 54,675 lbs


Payloads
Maximum structural payload 11,715 Kg 25,825 lbs

And now, some elementary math...

Lets assume the empty operational weight of 54,000 lbs. (less all the interior, then add the tank and all the gubbins, that's an estimate)
then add 3000USG, that will weigh in the neighbourhood of 26,500 lbs of retardant.
So: 54,000+26,500=80,500 lbs. (80,500 lbs=Max zero fuel weight, which can be changed)

So, 17,000 lb of fuel, at low altitude, I'd say max 2.5 hours endurance. I'd like to meet the pilot that wouldn't be looking for fuel after
the first hour and a half. Now you line up behind a bunch of SEATS, Convair 580's, electras, 215T's, 425's.....etc.

This plane will live in the fuelling pits.

[Flybabe]

Yet to be seen.

As I posted in the other section, the platform will probably do alright in areas like where it's parked right now - Texas.

California, we'll see. Nevada, same thing. I wonder how it will perform on the short turnarounds, not to mention steep terrain.

FYI - that tank that Tronos put in the thing was HORRIBLY inadequate. They did NOT test the thing with retardant. Pretty much a year ALONE was put into the thing trying to get the tank to function properly and drop pattern to be acceptable (it pretty much dumped 1/2 the load out in the first 1/2 of the test area, nothing in the last 1/2). I think the hours and hours of work my old company put into it has paid off in terms of pattern.

[Beefitarian]

Nausea - Heartburn - Indigestion - Upset Stomach - Diarreah

10/10

[High and Behind]

Any idea what the price tag will be on this?

What is the logic behind using this airframe?
I thought the USFS didn't want airframes hauled out of the desert and pressed into fire supression duties?
Hence the development of the Q 400