Above: A screen grab from the 747 Supertanker video, "Mountain Flying".
Global SuperTanker bought the retardant system and the intellectual property formerly owned by Evergreen, the organization that first put it in a 747-100 air tanker. It now resides in a 747-400 operated by Global SuperTanker which in recent weeks has been going through some of the final stages of installation, testing, and crew training.
Initial new hire training run at Keller Butte in North central Washington state. Global SuperTanker photo.On June 17 the aircraft traveled to Moses Lake, Washington to conduct crew training in mountainous terrain on the Colville Indian Reservation near Moses Lake, Washington. Training flights were under the direction of experienced Lead Plane pilot Jamie Tackman flying a King Air 90, and were recorded by video cameras located on the Keller Butte fire lookout tower and in a helicopter orbiting overhead. Tanker 944, along with the Lead Plane, made seven round trips to the training area, completing a mix of "show me" and low level dry runs plus various full load and segmented water drops. Three FAA inspectors from Denver and Seattle observed the flights.
T-944 makes a training drop on Keller Butte . Global SuperTanker photo.Jim Wheeler, President and CEO of Global SuperTanker Services, said they do not know if the aircraft will have to go through the retardant drop testing in which the liquid is caught in hundreds of cups placed on on the ground. The retardant system is basically the same that was used in Version 1.0 operated by Evergreen, which was previously approved by the Interagency Airtanker Board (IAB). The Board wants some additional data from static drops that will be conducted soon, then a decision will be made about what other data or testing they will need, if any. Global SuperTanker Services is now preparing the aircraft, ground crew and their facilities for inspections by the FAA, CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, Interagency Airtanker Board, and other state or regional fire agencies interested in CWN (Call When Needed) contracts for the 2016 fire season.
The company has produced videos showcasing the rebirth of the 747 air tanker, Tanker 944. Here are two of them. We'll have more tomorrow.
The first one appears to have been filmed during the training at the Colville Indian Reservation.
Source: http://fireaviation.com/2016/06/29/747-supertanker-update/--
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Posted by: Kim Noyes <kimnoyes@gmail.com>
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