Videos of firefighting aircraft in Chile

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Fixed wingTags , , , , ,

We gathered some videos of firefighting aircraft in Chile, including the 747, IL-76, and the CASA.

The first one shows the 747 creating a rainbow.

The video below shows some of the capabilities of the military CASA aircraft that is serving as a lead plane in Chile. It is in Spanish but English speakers will be able to get the drift.

Below is a great shot of the 747 dropping.

Next, the IL-76 drops near firefighters.

Another 747 drop:

Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment.

3 thoughts on “Videos of firefighting aircraft in Chile”

  1. A little bit of danger close on a couple of those drops. The Videographers are lucky not to have been washed away there! Being under a heavy like that on a drop could be a quick way to ruin your day.

    On that note Bill have you heard if the tankers are able to get good communications with on the ground parties for their drops or are they having to go in with just the lead planes?

    1. I would caution folks about making judgements about these aircraft based on a video. Very large aircraft appear closer than they are when you’re used to seeing smaller ones.

      There is a CONAF person on the lead plane who is in contact with people on the ground. There is also another aircraft at about 10,000′ scouting and setting priorities that may be communicating with firefighters on the ground.

    2. I calculated some figures from probably every video on the web of the 747 dropping. Retardant/water drops for effectiveness are measure in U.S. gallon per 100 square feet. 2 to 4 gallons per 100 square feet, knock down and holding in heavy grass and medium brush (less than 6 feet). 5 to 8 gallons/100 sq. ft. medium to heavy brush (over 6 feet) effective knockdown and holding. Timber (6 to 8 gal/100 sq. ft.) effective drip effect through canopy to forest floor. Drop pattern values, gallons per 100 sq. ft. are not a constant. The center line of the drop (flight path) will be reflect more gallons usually for a width of 50 feet with the outer values on either side of this center line tapering to less gallons. Here is what I came up with for the 747 during a drop. Airspeed 150 m.p.h. Height above the terrain (vegetation) 200 feet if held constant. Time to release 19,000 U.S. gallons twenty seconds. Area covered about 8 acres. Length of drop 4400 feet. Gallons delivered inside 3520×100 sq. ft. 5.5 gallons per 100 sq. ft. The center value (50 feet wide) is probably close to 12 gallon/ 100 sq ft. To respond to your comment Nathan, the farther from the center line (outside the 50 feet either side) of the aircrafts flight path during the drop the safer you will be. It is the fire fighters that have been working near the center line of a low drop that have been hurled into a not so soft object.

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