Water supertanker lands in Israel

Good for Israel. They saw the need and the International community responded. Fire Tactics 101: The water scoopers drop water, directly on the fire about 200-300 feet of fire line is cooled and partially extinguished per drop. Twice the coverage for the Russian scoopers. The 747 is a fire retardant line builder, indirect attack. The fire moves into the milk shake consistency liquid and is "retarded" for hours while ground crews move into build mineral fire lines/water and hoses. Depending on the coverage level required for holding the fire, two (grass) to eight (brush-timber) gallons per 100 square feet, the 747 can treat effectively up to 1.2 miles of (grass)fire line per drop. On the Hafia Incident using water or chemically enhanced water (foam or gel) the coverage level was maximum. 747 direct attack probably cooled and extinguished about 2000 to 3000 feet of fire line.

What's the turnaround time for the supertanker? I remember borate bombing with TBM Avengers used to see a significant amount of air time in transitting from the load site to the dump site and the time on the ground to load the tank.

During a wildland fire incident there will usually be multiple aircraft working. Turnarounds of less than forty-five minutes will probably be acceptable by the air operation managers. Land,load,wheels-up, back to the fire, forty five minutes, best guess?

Good for Supertanker but too bad the story said it was owned by Evergreen as this is a new airftame. Some what the same style of equipment inside. Great to see it put into use and think there will be more for it overseas.

Now ain't that special, We send a super tanker to Israel, when the largest tourist area in America is burning up.....namely the Great Smoky Mountains! ARE WE GETTING DUMB & DUMBER OR WHAT???