How does a Super Scooper plane work?

The aircraft flies at high speed (approximately 100 mph) just above the surface of a lake or reservoir, scooping up copious amounts of water into its belly. In just 12 seconds, the plane can accumulate 1,600 gallons of water, to be subsequently dropped onto nearby fires raging out of control.

How does a super scooper pick up water?

Sheehy: The way the aircraft picks up water, as it does not stop or suck it up, there’s no vacuum, it scoops it. And it scoops it through what you see here, two probes on either side of the keel of the aircraft, about the size of your hands put together, and as soon as you hit the water, they catch.

How do firefighting planes fill up?

Airtankers or water bombers are fixed-wing aircraft fitted with tanks that can be filled on the ground at an air tanker base or, in the case of flying boats and amphibious aircraft, by skimming water from lakes, reservoirs, or large rivers without needing to land.

Can Canadair use sea water?

The airframe is built for reliability and longevity, making extensive use of corrosion-resistant materials, predominantly treated aluminium, that facilitates its use in salt water.

How much does a 747 supertanker cost?

Acquiring the aircraft and converting it to an air tanker reportedly cost more than $10 million. The first-generation Evergreen 747-100 Supertanker. When it comes to tackling a major fire, a big air tanker like the 747 is sometimes what’s needed.

How much fire retardant can a 747 hold?

Most large air tankers carry up to 3,000 gallons of retardant. The 747 is capable of carrying far more retardant than any other. When first introduced it was listed at 20,000 gallons. Then the federal government certified it at 19,200 gallons.

Why do fire planes drop red water?

It’s a sight now synonymous with California’s fire season: A tanker aircraft flies over vegetation and drops a stream of red. But what exactly is that stuff? It’s fire retardant, used in preemptive strikes to keep flames from spreading.

Can you use sea water to fight fires?

Fire can be put out with seawater, though it is not usually used to do so. Saltwater can effectively extinguish fire, but it may damage firefighting equipment and hurt plant life if used. Saltwater use creates problems for both the water distributing equipment and the surrounding environment.

Can the sea catch fire?

In a body of water as large as the ocean, one doesn’t normally expect a fire to break out. This particular fire has been blamed on a gas leak from a pipeline owned by Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company. It burned for several hours and was eventually stopped through the use of nitrogen.

Who owns supertanker?

National Airlines
Orlando-based National Airlines announced this week that it has acquired the Global SuperTanker and will be returning Tanker 944 back into cargo configuration to join the companies fleet of cargo aircraft that comprises of five Boeing 747-400 aircraft, a Boeing 757-200 and an A300-200.

Is fire retardant dropped from planes toxic?

The fire retardant is generally safe — the Forest Service has said its risk of chemical toxicity is minor for most animals, and it predicted no risk for people who are accidentally splashed — but the sheer volume that comes out of a plane is very heavy. The fire retardant is gooey — sticky, even, Turner said.