Couple of neat photos I grabbed while on a wildfire. Enjoy!

A thing of beauty, those choppers and planes ...

I saw on news the use of one of the largest planes made to help in fires, able to drop huge loads of water and other firefighting material in one sweep. Cant recall the name of that plane but it was absolutely huge. They will be used in even overseas travel to help fight fires .

Thank you , Brennan !

Like to see pilots in action this way.

Absolutely. Nothing better then seeing helitack in action.

I’m guessing you saw the VLAT (Very large air tanker)? Pretty obvious name but it sure describes it haha they’re extremely fun to watch and help save a lot of work stopping or slowing fires down. That’s the VLAT in my second photo doing a drop. Where at are you in Montana ?

They are all amazing to see. Love all the choppers and the talent it takes to be so precise .

I found what I saw - the Global SuperTanker 747-400 Boeing .

I am in the NW not too far from Glacier Park and Canada , the whole region being a sweet spot in many ways, in the mountains.

Isnt she a beauty ??!!

That is a beautiful plane. I like watching air planes.

not sure on gross weight of supertanker,,, but the 747 400 is near a million pounds..
its just mind boggling to me to think of that weight just flying away... just think of the horsepower
impressive indeed.... just read it can spread a rain 120 ft x 3 miles per load

Impressive indeed, Hydro.

Also choppers that perform the spectrum of good service, including Chinooks that can haul everything...the weight carried is astounding.

Flight of all kinds, is a mighty thing , and does such good for so many.

It looks like a boring 205++ and probably tanker 9-1-1.

Probably Tanker 944 and a BELL 205

I wonder if those planes have a person in the back, like the bombers did in WW2, to help tell the pilot when to release?

No.

747 Supertanker- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/747_Supertanker

When I was working for the US Forest Service from '79 - '89, the Forest Service had not gone to using the C-130's very much. The air show that went along with some of the larger fires was like an antique aircraft show. Lots of WW2 relics were still in use, both bombers (PB4Y) and old cargo planes (Flying Boxcars) and many others all the way to DC-7's and the like. The helicopters were about the same with everything from Bell 47's, Sikorsky S-58, to Blackhawks.

I can remember watching C54, PBY, DC 7, Lockheed P2V and DC 10. Those old ww2 warbirds were the best!! Cool stuff !!

Then its even more amazing that with technology and training they can be that precise, without putting eyes on the on the fire directly.

That Red slurry is no fun to have dropped on you. Found out in 89 in Idaho.

Blackhawks and CH-47's are also used, the 47 has a massive internal tank, while the Blackhawk as a good sized external tank mounted to the airframe.
Blackhawk is called Firehawk when set up with the external tank....

They have a lead plane and a tail plane that act as their eyes

we used to have a T-28 stationed here to act as a lead plane. It was a real joy to watch Capt. Clay ( USN ret) fly that thing into the smokiest, hottest spots with a trail of WW2 war birds behind him. It was almost like being at the battle of Midway Nothing gets the blood pumping like the sound of a round engine !!

Especially if they had a jet assist engine! Nothing like the smell of Avgas and the sound of a round motor!