Firefighting Tankers and Bombers

[kick Z tail out]

Great catches on the Mars! 

Thanks Jim, though it would be sweet to get some shots like you did at Elsinore!

[kick Z tail out]

I took my nephew (he's 3) down to the base to so he could get around some airplanes. I got him turned on to airplanes at Blue Angels Winter Training this year. At first he was scared at the extreme chest rattling sounds, but before you knew it he loved it and now he doesn't stop talking about airplanes. He's my little airplane buddy. Now we're both just as crazy.

He makes me want a son that I can make into a pilot one day.  

As you can tell by the smile on his face... this is something he'll never forget.

[NikonGuy]

Great pics Nathan! 

[kick Z tail out]

Great pics Nathan! 

Thanks He's pretty easy to take pictures of. Some kids are a pain!

[NikonGuy]

Thanks He's pretty easy to take pictures of. Some kids are a pain!

True true... 

[Midnight Mover]

That dog is looking like "what the heck is that?!" 


Here is the recent retardant drop I had rain down on me. The second shot is literally .5 seconds before it started landing on me.

Great shots

[kick Z tail out]

Great shots

Thanks I literally had a blast taking them.



Hey Brian... those shots of Tanker 55 you took at Fox Field back in February 08 (on page 1)... I'd love to buy one of those from ya next time I see you...

[kick Z tail out]

To the guys that frequent SBD or Fox... Are there still any DC-4s, 6s or 7s getting contracts? I'm kind of isolated since they haven't been cleared to operate out of here for a long time. I know there was all kinds of BS going on with the Forest Service regarding contracts for heavy air tankers, so I don't know what is going on exactly.

I know I miss the low pitched drone of those huge radials... just hearing that sound takes me right back to my childhood watching the tankers here in Hemet.

[akradecki]

Last year, it was only the Sevens from Butler at Fox. Haven't seen them yet this year, but then again, things haven't gotten terribly busy there. Here's one from 2007.

[kick Z tail out]

Awesome, and great picture! If anyone sees them this year, can ya let me know? I'd really like to see one again... especially when you never know how long they'll keep em in the air.

[kick Z tail out]

Had a 250 acre brush fire break out in Winchester (about 5 minutes from my house) so of course, I had to head over there. 

[Midnight Mover]

Had a 250 acre brush fire break out in Winchester (about 5 minutes from my house) so of course, I had to head over there. 

Very nice

[akradecki]

And it looks like you even managed to stay out from underneath the foscheck this time!

[kick Z tail out]

Believe me, I was bummed about that. I wanted closer. If I wasn't going to be late to work, I definitely would have gotten closer. 

[NikonGuy]

Very cool shots Nate!