News flash, its already out here. Yes it can drop a shit ton of mud, however its slow as fuck when it comes to making drops, just like hte DC10s. Over an hour turnaround between loads.
A faster yet much slower flying bird is up in BC. The Martin Mars... 7200 gallon load, can drop water, foam or a blue retardant called Thermogel that can be mixed in flight. Takes 30 seconds to reload. Can drop 28000 gallons an hour for 7 hrs straight. Has the most advanced navigation system of any air tanker currently in use.
You tell me, is 28000 gallons an hour more than 18000, or 11400? Let me think here... Still it sits up in BC waiting for a contract from someone because its flight speed is less than 300 mph. People say its too old, yet the Erickson DC7s aren't much newer, nor are most of the S2T Trackers, or the P2V Neptunes (retired 2 weeks ago and brought back for the fires here). Hawaii Mars has been kicking fires asses for more than 50 years.
For the fires here, it could scoop off of either SF bay, or Lake Berryessa, flight time to the fire 5-15 min, drop, back in anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. Even if it takes half an hour, its still outpacing the DC10s, and very close to keeping pace with the 747. We could also use the Canadair CL415s, they are similar to the Mars, however they hold only 1600 gallons. Still they can scoop from most lakes in the area and be back on the fire in minutes.
Will
A faster yet much slower flying bird is up in BC. The Martin Mars... 7200 gallon load, can drop water, foam or a blue retardant called Thermogel that can be mixed in flight. Takes 30 seconds to reload. Can drop 28000 gallons an hour for 7 hrs straight. Has the most advanced navigation system of any air tanker currently in use.
You tell me, is 28000 gallons an hour more than 18000, or 11400? Let me think here... Still it sits up in BC waiting for a contract from someone because its flight speed is less than 300 mph. People say its too old, yet the Erickson DC7s aren't much newer, nor are most of the S2T Trackers, or the P2V Neptunes (retired 2 weeks ago and brought back for the fires here). Hawaii Mars has been kicking fires asses for more than 50 years.
For the fires here, it could scoop off of either SF bay, or Lake Berryessa, flight time to the fire 5-15 min, drop, back in anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. Even if it takes half an hour, its still outpacing the DC10s, and very close to keeping pace with the 747. We could also use the Canadair CL415s, they are similar to the Mars, however they hold only 1600 gallons. Still they can scoop from most lakes in the area and be back on the fire in minutes.
Will
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