Dave Kearton wrote:

Well, if they do, it'll be a purely political requirement, not an
operational one.

This year's "trial" of the DC-10 aircraft is rumoured to have cost $10m
- and that's just for our smallest mainland state.

Wow, that's a lot of money for a trial...
Maybe I don't understand the situation down there. I live in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, near Lake Tahoe. Area is blanketed with oak, madrone,
and evergreens such as pine and fir. Air bases are scattered and there's
really no place for planes to reload outside of the air bases. Lots of
ponds and lakes for helicopters though.

Perhaps the lower load of the Air Tractor is offset by being able to
turn around a lot faster? Are they able to be serviced from suitable
roads? That would sure change the game. I was just thinking of the small
load vs long distances to travel...

Locally we have 2 S2's with turbines, a helicopter, and an OV-10
spotter. I'm only about 3 miles from the airbase, which is comforting! I
have seen what I think is a DC-6 and a C-130 fighting nearby fires.
Actually what I think is the DC-6, I got a REAL good look at, as he came
up out of a canyon and crossed the ridge I was on maybe 1.5x his
wingspan above the trees. Man I wish I had a camera with me, I could see
the pilot looking down at me...


Jon