New South Wales Rural Fire Service’s Bomber 210, a 737 air tanker.
These photos show what appears to be the result of Bomber 210 impacting a hangar and a fence.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service purchased the aircraft from Coulson Aviation in 2019, along with a contract with Coulson for the operation and maintenance of the air tanker.
A spokesperson for the RFS told Fire Aviation:
The NSW RFS is aware of an incident involving its Large Air Tanker the ‘Marie Bashir’ at RAAF Base Richmond.
The aircraft has rolled into a hanger, sustaining damage to the aircraft and the building.
An investigation into the incident has been launched. The aircraft will be grounded while repairs are undertaken.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service’s Bomber 210, a 737 air tanker.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom and Tim.
T-141 (C-FFQEQ) Q400AT – Refueling at Majuro, Marshall Islands in August , 2020 while en route to Bundaberg, Queensland for the 2020-2021 bushfire season in Australia. Photo Credit Brendon Sutton.
Wildland fire authorities in Australia expect to have at least six large air tankers working on exclusive use arrangements during the 2020-2021 fire season which is already underway down under. Five will be under contract and one, a B737, is owned by the New South Wales government.
Richard Alder, General Manager of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) said on October 13, “We will continue to monitor how the season develops and consider the need for additional large airtankers if required.”
A year ago Australia started the 2019-2020 fire season with a plan to have five large air tankers, but when the fire activity grew to unprecedented levels, NAFC added two in November, 2019 (a DC-10 and a C-130Q) then in January, 2020 added four more (two DC-10s and two MD-87s).
Currently active:
B737, Bomber 210 (formerly Tanker 138), N138CG, purchased from Coulson and now owned by New South Wales Rural Fire Service, at Richmond, NSW. Year round.
Q400AT, Bomber 141, C-FFQE, supplied by FieldAir/Conair, at Bundaberg, Queensland. Started September 1, 2020.
RJ85, Bomber 166 (Tanker 166), C-GVFT, supplied by FieldAir/Conair, at Dubbo, New South Wales. Started October 1, 2020.
Due to start November 1, 2020:
B737, Tanker 137, N137CG, supplied by Coulson, at Richmond, NSW. The contract allows Coulson to substitute another aircraft, their “new” Tanker 132, a C130H, depending on the status of the overlapping fire seasons in Australia and the US.
Due to start December 2, 2020.
RJ 85, Bomber 391, C-GVFK (?), supplied by FieldAir/Conair, at Avalon Victoria.
Due to start December 16, 2020
C130Q, Bomber 390 (Tanker 131), N130FF, supplied by Coulson, at Avalon Victoria.
According according to a September through November outlook from the Bushfire and Natural Hazard Cooperative Research Centre much of Australia may be looking at a slower than average fire season for the next two months.
The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) was formed by the Australian States and Territories in July, 2003 to provide a cooperative national arrangement for combating bushfires. It facilitates the coordination and procurement of a fleet of firefighting aircraft that are readily available for use by State and Territory emergency service and land management agencies across Australia.
NSW RFS’ B-210, formerly known as Air Tanker 138. October 9, 2020. Matthew Tregear photo.
The 737 air tanker that New South Wales Rural Fire Service purchased from Coulson received a new paint job over the Australian winter. Besides needing to be identified as Bomber 210, there is a report that flying through ash during the incredibly busy 2019-2020 bushfire season stripped away enough paint to justify the new livery.
After a career of hauling passengers for Southwest Airlines, the aircraft made its first drop on a fire in August, 2019.
It was repainted by Flying Colors Aviation in Townsville, Queensland and made its first drop of the 2020/2021 bushfire season a few days ago.
The design of the livery on the aircraft when it was converted into an air tanker by Coulson was based on a Boeing concept seen on some of their new aircraft.
The design of the livery on the aircraft when it was converted into an air tanker by Coulson was based on a Boeing concept seen on some of their new aircraft.