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A McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) has touched down in Brisbane on its way to joining the NSW Rural Fire Service’s firefighting air fleet.
The DC-10, which will be under contract from 10 Tanker Air Carrier in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the United States, is expected to be based at RAAF Base Richmond alongside a Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules that arrived in Australia in late August.
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The 10 Tanker Air Carrier website says the DC-10 was capable of carrying 43,910 litres of fire suppressant per load.
The RFS said on September 1 it would have 35 aircraft supporting the firefighting effort over the coming bushfire season, which would be “supported by over 100 tactical aircraft from operators that have met standards to carry out aerial firefighting activities”.
PWM
says:Well that’s going to be big waste of money for the taxpayers of NSW, but lots of wank value for Politicians and the NSW RFS big-wigs.
Trash Hauler
says:Is all the water capacity carried externally like the 146? Looks like it…
Geoff
says:I happened to be in the garden when I heard this different engine noise flying overhead(I live on short final approach to YBBN,01) looked up and saw it was the DC10…Great aircraft in their day.
Dante
says:That’s the size of aircraft we need over in WA to support the existing fire fighting fleet.
Dane
says:The DC-10 looks odd without its center gear
Len Trezise
says:FANTASTIC TO SEE NSW RFS BRINGING IN THE BIG GUNS THE DC-10 VLAT TO FIGHT OUR FIRES AND IS CURRENTLY BEING DEPLOYED ON THE LANCEFIELD (VIC) BUSH FIRE. CAN’T SEE AS TO WHY OUR RAAF CAN’T STEP IN AND HELP OUT WITH THEIR VERY LARGE AIRCRAFT AND HAVE THEM RETRO FITTED WITH WATER TANKS UNDER THEIR BELLIES, THEY DID IT WITH THE RAAF C120 HERCULES AT THE MT. BUFFALO BUSHFIRE MANY YEARS AGO. THE BIGGER THE BETTER AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED AND TO HELL WITH THE EXPENSE AND DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT TO SAVE LIVES, PROPERTY AND ANIMALS.
Len Trezise former CFA officer and wildfire fighter retired 48 years service.