CANADAIR CL 215: Fire Attack Demo Up Close 2019 

You're right, I need to hitch a ride on a Convair before they're gone. I'm looking into it, but in the meantime you can check out my channel's playlist category "Convairliners". However, as good as they are, they still have minimal historical background and technical content as do most propliner videos found on RU-vid.

Je suis content que vous ayez appre'cie' les moteurs et le spectacle. Moi aussi! Merci!

Lucky you! I never witnessed an actual firefighting operation of an air tanker. The CL-215's were the first purpose-built aircraft for on-water, on-the-go tank replenishment. I think the huge Martin Mars flying boat conversions were the very first to do this, however.

The very first aircraft to do this was a DeHaviland Beaver and Dehaviland Otter developed and flown by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario Provincial Air Service. The OPAS is the worlds oldest government air service 1924 to present. You are correct in they were not purpose built to just fight fire. The Mars is flying boat and the PBY 5 A is of course amphibian. The Otter and Beaver utilized roll tanks mounted on the floats and later with the development of the Field Aircraft internal system first used on a PBY 5A. This system was designed by a very clever gentleman employed by Field Aviation named J Knox Hawkshaw who is enshrined in the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. Just a slight correction on the loads carried by the 215 they are of coarse measured in imperial gallons. 1200 is equal to 1300 US gallons. Water weighs 10 pounds per imperial gallon so the machine scoops 12,000 pounds up in 10 seconds through two probes one for each tank. The piston Beaver powered by a P&W985 could scoop 90 imperial 45 gallons per side and the piston Otter with a P&W 1340 scooped 1 cubic meter equal to 1000 liters or 220 imperial gallons or one metric ton. 2200 pounds. Both aircraft had scooping times of 10 seconds per full load. I never flew the piston Beaver in the fire bombing roll but have 4 seasons on the Otter and a bit of time fire fighting in the Turbo Beaver which could carry 120 imperial in internal float tanks. Both Dehavilands worked well on small to moderate fires but they were handicapped by small loads. Their one advantage is they could work out of small lakes the PBY couldn’t use. I have worked beside the Mars on fires and it’s load is quite impressive. It’s age and the logistics of getting avgas are it’s biggest drawbacks so it’s time has come and gone.

As always, thanks again!

As always, thanks again!