dc10

[Gilbert]

watch it work

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/livenow?id=8347597

[Oleander Kayaker]

Very cool. There was a spotter plane (like a Cessna) that laid an indicator smoke trail, where the DC-10 tanker followed, and then bombed along the indicator.

[rha]

While there are alot of DC-10s parked in the desert, large numbers of DC-10s are still operated by the military (KC-10 mid-air refuelers), cargo carriers (fedex), and charter operators. It is no longer operated in regularly scheduled passenger service in the US and seldom outside the US for pax service. It is a well made tank.

[Swells]

That's right, rha, although I think Fed-Ex runs a few these days, many more MD's than DC's. It's hard to find an instrument rated pilot for those old birds!

By the way talk about dangerous, these guys have to fly into rugged terrain, violent updrafts can nearly rip the wings off, and the ash isn't too good the the engines, either. My hat goes off to the DC-10 fire tanker crews.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRfXfjeKUuQ

You can see how they work over in California where they're based. The spotter plane is used to estimate percent of the fire line that is contained, which is why they're there and why they take lots of pictures. Each load of red fertilizer fire retardant costs $70,000 so it's an expensive deal and everyone tries to help out best as possible under severe situations.

I pray that the fire storms subside soon. Remember this spring when West Texas jumped on fire? Then Central Texas had a fire storm and now it's near the Houston and East Texas area. And now the weather pundits say La Nina is coming back to make it a dry winter - this ain't good, pard!

[Curmudgeon]

watch it work

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/livenow?id=8347597

Nice! It wasn't the first video but it was worth the wait!

[boom]

Fedex runs all dc-10's.

[rha]

Interestingly, Fedex operates all DC10s with three variants: classic DC10-30s, MD11s, and a variant FEDEX calls MD10s. MD11 is a more modern version with a two person cockpit--KLM still operates these in scheduled service. The MD10 was created by fedex. It took DC10s, (three pilot cockpit) and put MD11 cockpits (two pilots) and avionics in the airplane. Pretty hard to do so not many of these were created. Great airplane and these pilots flying on these sort of missions are quite skilled as it is not made for close to the ground maneuvers.

[boom]

My good friend is the top pilot for fedex out of memphis. He is in charge of qualifying all fedex pilots and runs the simulator program. He has got me weekend sim time on several occasions. Better than any e ticket ride that I have even been on.

[Silver Wolf]

couldn't get the video to work. Lord Bless.
robert