It must have been a slow day at the air tanker base at the Avalon Airport (map) near Melbourne, New South Wales, Australia. Yes, in the screen grab above that is Phos-Chek loader Henry Ring playing a bagpipe while standing in the door of Conair’s RJ85.
Several large air tankers from North America have been on contract with the states of New South Wales and Victoria during their 2015/2016 summer bushfire season and have been staged at Avalon recently. In the video, uploaded to YouTube by Steve Forbes, you’ll see the inside and outside of the RJ85, one of 10 Tanker’s DC-10s, and at least one of the two Coulson C-130s, plus some bird dogs or lead planes.
The RJ-85 has a unique way of waving at the camera.
Mr. Forbes described the video:
In 2015/16 many air and ground personnel including aviation industry professionals, fire agency staff & volunteers and contract ground crews worked hard everyday of the Australian summer making sure the Large (and very large) Air tankers could be at the ready to protect the Australian communities. This is a tribute to these crews.
I hope you like the sound of a bagpipe.
I have always loved the bagpipes and Scotland the Brave is a favourite piece. What a talented player Henry Ring is, and what a marvelous tribute. Thanks Steve for uploading this.
This is incredible! I’m an Aircraft Dispatcher for the FS and it was an honor to watch this tribute! Thanks for all you do!