Question About The OC Fires (Rotors)

[GTagami]

Hey guys,

I was up at a reservoir near Savi Ranch where the helos fighting the Yorba/Anaheim/Corona fire were filling their tanks and baskets. I saw both of the Anaheim PD helos, and one OC Sheriffs A-Star flying fire operations. They were all fitted with baskets and were rotating in and out with the Cal Fire and OCFA birds. Is this a normal practice? Skip? 

G

Photos coming...

[robin990]

Both those units have used water buckets for years......does 150 gallons of water really help....lets just say the more water the better. Thats why the Skycranes with 2000 gallons are so effective.

[GTagami]

Both those units have used water buckets for years......does 150 gallons of water really help....lets just say the more water the better. Thats why the Skycranes with 2000 gallons are so effective.

I was thinking the same thing. It didn't look like they held much and a lot of water seemed to blow right off the top when they took off.

G

[aero-engineer]

I remember as a kid in the late 1980s going to an Anaheim FD/PD "Fire Day" demo and they used the bucket under the PD Helo.

Kevin
aero-engineer