Re: Fire Fighting Choppers

Interesting. Thanks for the post. You done did gooood.


Jerry474 Wrote:
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> I know many of you do not do Facebook, I just
> posted this on my Facebook page. If you want to
> see more of the photos I shot this morning, they
> are there,
>
> Billings Flight Services of Billings, Montana has
> four CH47 Chinook helicopters in Durango fighting
> the 416 fire.
> [billingsflyingservice.com]
>
> This morning, Mike Strasser, one of the pilots,
> and his wife Stefan gave me a tour of their
> operations at the Durango Air Port. Mike is also
> an incredible artist and he and Stefan produce a
> line of aviation comic books and other aviation
> goodies. Take a look, some pretty cool stuff.
> [www.chickenwingscomics.com]
>
> The CH47 Chinook helicopter was originally built
> for the military both the US military and our
> allies by Boeing-Vertol. One of the Billing's
> CH47s was acquired from the Australian Air Force.
> All the Billing's CH47s have been upgraded with
> more powerful jet engines, up-to-date electronics
> and brought up same standards as new CH47s.
> Billings uses two systems for fighting fires, a
> traditional water bucket that is very useful for
> dropping a lot of water on a small area. They also
> use a siphon and tank system where the helicopter
> siphons water from ponds, lakes, etc. into a large
> tank inside the CH47, the same siphon tubes are
> used to drop large amounts of water on the fire.
> What a bunch of great folks who are doing a very
> dangerous job to protect us from fires. Thanks
> guys for saving Durango.
>
> [attachment 47505 _7504102.jpg]
> [attachment 47506 _7504091.jpg]
> [attachment 47507 _7504081.jpg]
>
> Mike Strasser, one of the CH47 pilots and yours
> truly in front of the water bucket. It is larger
> than I thought.
> [attachment 47508 _8500472.jpg]
>
> The bubble window gives the pilot great visibility
> in almost all directions.
> [attachment 47509 _7504098.jpg]