Were the Air Tractors on amphibs? If so they are designed to fill their tanks by skimming over the water vs filling them at an airport.The air tractors are flying much further than I expected, why might this be? Do they spray a specialty chemical or is it just water?
Probably dropping retardant for containment. That is more effective than trying to extinguish with water once it really gets going.There is some kind of a brush fire near me right now, many crews working including spotter 182 and two air tractors. The air tractors are flying much further than I expected, why might this be? Do they spray a specialty chemical or is it just water?
My home airport is much closer, not sure about water availability.
Wildland Firefighting agencies generally have dedicated facilities for mixing retardant and pumping it onboard the aircraft. The retardant of choice is known as phos-check. As mentioned, some aircraftThere is some kind of a brush fire near me right now, many crews working including spotter 182 and two air tractors. The air tractors are flying much further than I expected, why might this be? Do they spray a specialty chemical or is it just water?
My home airport is much closer, not sure about water availability.
On purpose built firefighting AIr Tractors they can be set up with a retardant mix tank plus the hopper which is directly filled with the amphib scoop water. Its hard to tell from the video but without the floats it is more likely a standard AT that can be configured between a firefighter or sprayer as the need arises.As mentioned, some aircraftc an pick up water from a lake or stream - but I don't know if they can or do mix retardant onboard or use the water directly.