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Air Force tankers ready for flight and fire fight
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| Maj. Steve Foss of the U.S. Air Force said Monday that the C-130H, shown in the background, is a versatile plane that can maneuver well at low altitudes, making it suitable for fire retardant runs. Two of the eight planes used in a joint program by the U.S. Forest Service and Air Force are at Kingsley Field, ready to respond to fires in Northern California and Southern Oregon. |
Published September 7, 2004
By DYLAN DARLING
Two hulking military cargo planes with neon numbers on the side are a good sight for the staff at Kingsley Field's wildfire air tanker base.
"We are just glad to be hosting them - it's nice to have some aircraft here," said Don Chavin, tanker base manager.
The two C-130Hs, marked No. 5 and No. 2, are part of a program run by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Air Force that gives the Forest Service help in fighting wildfires with Air Force planes.
Usually, the planes are backup equipment that come on line near the end of fire season. This year, the federal government grounded most civilian air tankers because of safety concerns and the Air Force planes moved to the front line.
"This year has been a little bit different," said Tim Grantham, military liaison for the Forest Service.
In all, there are eight C-130s in the program, and sometimes they all are stationed at the same base.
Along with the two that came to Klamath Falls came a crew of 50, including pilots, copilots, navigators, flight engineers, load masters and a bevy of military and civilian ground support.
The planes now at Kingsley have been in action since May 24.
In early May, the Forest Service and the Interior Department terminated the contracts for 33 large air tankers that were set to fly this summer. Some of the canceled contracts were for C-130As, the 50-year old predecessors to the C-130H. The newer planes are designed to handle more stress and haven't had as long a life as their grounded cousins, officials said.
Two of the contracts canceled were for two converted D-7s from Redmond that had been stationed at the tanker base last year.
"This year, with the limited number of aircraft, we are really more in a standby, 'be ready' mode," Grantham said.
The C-130Hs have been a traveling air show since the start of fire season. From Peterson Air Force in Colorado, the two tankers have been stationed in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Boise, Washington, and, now Klamath Falls.
Three weeks ago the planes were in Spokane, Wash., but after a week of rain, they were sent by officials at the National Interagency Fire Center to Kingsley so they could be within striking distance of potential fires in Northern California and Southern Oregon.
Officials said they don't know how long the planes will be stationed here and they could get called elsewhere at any time.
The planes and their six-person flight crews are ready for any fires that might spark, and can be in the air with a full load of retardant within a half hour.
"They are locked and cocked," said Maj. Steve Foss, commander on the Air Force side of the operation.
A workhorse of the U.S. military for a half century, the original C-130 went into production in the 1950s. There have been numerous redesigns and upgrades, but the basic design remains the same - four engines, a big cargo bay and big tail and rudder.
The plane is versatile and maneuverable, Foss said. It can land in a short distance on rough runways, fly low and cruise at a good clip.
"It's used in just about any mission - you name it," Foss said.
The planes are used to drop supplies, carry troops and haul trucks and tanks.
Here, the planes mission is drop retardant in front of wildfires, protecting life, property and natural resources, Foss said.
In the cargo bay, a device owned by the Forest Service holds 2,700 gallons of retardant. Once over a fire, a plane's rear cargo door opens and two big nozzles flip out. The retardant is then dropped at about 150 to 200 feet, with the plane going about 120 knots, or 138 mph.
The pilots have about 14 years of experience each and are skilled in low-level flying, Foss said. While in town, the pilots and crew stay at hotels, but need to stay close to the tanker base in case there is a fire call.
"If there is a fire that threatens property or life, we can get up there and protect them," Foss said.
By DYLAN DARLING
Two hulking military cargo planes with neon numbers on the side are a good sight for the staff at Kingsley Field's wildfire air tanker base.
"We are just glad to be hosting them - it's nice to have some aircraft here," said Don Chavin, tanker base manager.
The two C-130Hs, marked No. 5 and No. 2, are part of a program run by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Air Force that gives the Forest Service help in fighting wildfires with Air Force planes.
Usually, the planes are backup equipment that come on line near the end of fire season. This year, the federal government grounded most civilian air tankers because of safety concerns and the Air Force planes moved to the front line.
"This year has been a little bit different," said Tim Grantham, military liaison for the Forest Service.
In all, there are eight C-130s in the program, and sometimes they all are stationed at the same base.
Along with the two that came to Klamath Falls came a crew of 50, including pilots, copilots, navigators, flight engineers, load masters and a bevy of military and civilian ground support.
The planes now at Kingsley have been in action since May 24.
In early May, the Forest Service and the Interior Department terminated the contracts for 33 large air tankers that were set to fly this summer. Some of the canceled contracts were for C-130As, the 50-year old predecessors to the C-130H. The newer planes are designed to handle more stress and haven't had as long a life as their grounded cousins, officials said.
Two of the contracts canceled were for two converted D-7s from Redmond that had been stationed at the tanker base last year.
"This year, with the limited number of aircraft, we are really more in a standby, 'be ready' mode," Grantham said.
The C-130Hs have been a traveling air show since the start of fire season. From Peterson Air Force in Colorado, the two tankers have been stationed in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Boise, Washington, and, now Klamath Falls.
Three weeks ago the planes were in Spokane, Wash., but after a week of rain, they were sent by officials at the National Interagency Fire Center to Kingsley so they could be within striking distance of potential fires in Northern California and Southern Oregon.
Officials said they don't know how long the planes will be stationed here and they could get called elsewhere at any time.
The planes and their six-person flight crews are ready for any fires that might spark, and can be in the air with a full load of retardant within a half hour.
"They are locked and cocked," said Maj. Steve Foss, commander on the Air Force side of the operation.
A workhorse of the U.S. military for a half century, the original C-130 went into production in the 1950s. There have been numerous redesigns and upgrades, but the basic design remains the same - four engines, a big cargo bay and big tail and rudder.
The plane is versatile and maneuverable, Foss said. It can land in a short distance on rough runways, fly low and cruise at a good clip.
"It's used in just about any mission - you name it," Foss said.
The planes are used to drop supplies, carry troops and haul trucks and tanks.
Here, the planes mission is drop retardant in front of wildfires, protecting life, property and natural resources, Foss said.
In the cargo bay, a device owned by the Forest Service holds 2,700 gallons of retardant. Once over a fire, a plane's rear cargo door opens and two big nozzles flip out. The retardant is then dropped at about 150 to 200 feet, with the plane going about 120 knots, or 138 mph.
The pilots have about 14 years of experience each and are skilled in low-level flying, Foss said. While in town, the pilots and crew stay at hotels, but need to stay close to the tanker base in case there is a fire call.
"If there is a fire that threatens property or life, we can get up there and protect them," Foss said.
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