747 SuperTanker joins California's firefighting fleet

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has used Global SuperTanker Service's Boeing 747-400 for the first time to fight a fire. The SuperTanker is a former Japan Airlines aircraft that's been converted into a retardant-dropping air tanker. Adrienne Moore of CBS station KOVR-TV reports.

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[devenlooney]

Reporter: “have you given it a name”
Guy: “ I call this the worlds largest super soaker”

[rdh]

My question is, why is this aircraft not airborne and on scene in Los Angeles helping with extinguishing these wildfires?

[georgiesonymusic]

Honest we need more than one. God Bless America.

[bravofoxable]

They should retrofit all 747 's heading for retirement, like this. The world needs this. Stately ladies, those 747's....

[JNDlego]

The cost of flight isn’t what’s expensive, it’s the retardent foam. At a price of $3/gal, this thing drops almost $60, 000 in less than 10 seconds, which is why it’s not always used.

[saladbowlpyro]

It did last week over Salinas valley they must still be using it for the Dolan fire in big sur

[djrazoredgeoftherevelator]

i wonder if a b 52 could be use as a tanker and i hate to say it it would carry more

[blackly]

The natives knew and still know the best way to handle the fire situation. Watching this is purely for entertainment. This is not even difficult.

[mattcook]

Not all forest fires are bad that’s why they probably didn’t want it extinguished. Fire is a natural part of the life cycle of the forest and it’s trees. It’s only bad when it gets close to developed areas and structures.

[willsmith]

I had to play :12 like multiple times. A genuine mishap.

[chrisflocco]

If this airplane would save lives, property, time, and man power than I say use it.

[fernandocarrillo]

Somebody can get pretty rich by making a business lease a bunch of these jumbo Jets converted to water tankers and charge people to put up your damn fires

[andrewwitkowski]

It’s not CalFire’s... It’s owned and operated by a private contractor and is used all over the world.

[xxl]

nice i just heard 2 american news agencies report about the same aircraft only with totally different statistics....

[zvast]

Why not create a fleet of russian BE-200? They can refill in seconds from a nearby lake and they could fly a relay, one after another, stop the fire, before it gets so big.

[thetooginator]

Dear California Bashers, the FEDERAL Forestry Service has to approve of the use of these planes to fight fires, so don’t blame California if they aren’t used.

They seem like a great idea to me, but I’m not a professional in this area. Here’s one potential problem: 747’s aren’t very maneuverable - especially when flying through smoke close to the ground in hilly areas with crazy air currents. A crash in a populated area would be really, really bad.

[matthewgreener]

It costs $1 million to launch that 747 plane

[tikiolly]

im gonna bring this to the next water gun war

[byronpratt]

Isn’t 16000 less than Air Force one, like this really shows our priorities doesn’t it

[andrewmakau]

Japanese aircraft dropping bombs, water bombs.