CFPA JUNE 2016 NEWS

THE CALIFORNIA FIRE PILOTS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

NEW BOEING 747-400 THE WALT SUPERTANKER DARRAN AWARD THE DEEN OF TANKERS PART 1 2016 ONCE UPON A TIME... IN THE WEST CFPA NEWS

2016 Fire season Editor : Jerome Laval ([email protected]) Ladies and gentlemen, Editorial staff : Cyril Defever, Frédéric Marsaly, Franck Mée Besides some rain last winter, Cali- fornia Season 2016 promises to be a Designer : Philippe Laurent long, busy and hot one! Don’t stay ([email protected]) thirsty my friends… hydrate!

Contributors to this issue : Congratulations to Jim Cook, for re- James Dunn, Jim Merryfield, ceiving the International Aerial Fire Kit Robinson, Dean Talley, Fighting “Walt Darran” Award for his Wes Schultz and Steve Whitby contribution to this industry as the creator of the Fire Traffic Area con- As you can see, the overall cept and procedure. Since its imple- presentation of our newsletter has mentation, the FTA procedure improved the safety and efficiency of evolved: after 5 summers of Air Operations tremendously! faithful heavy duty, graphic designer Cyril Defever has chosen In recent years several pilots in our group retired or moved on to dif- to concentrate on his own work, ferent paths; Jim Dunn, Sharky Cornell, Les Koehler, Lee Monson, Ted writing books and articles. As a Mundell, Patty Wagstaff, Bruce Wickert, Russ looney, Lee Donham, result, we are happy to welcome Philippe Laurent as our new Bob DeVinny, Ray DiLorenzo, Lynn McGrew, Bob Forbes, Deen Oehl. designer. Thank you Cyril for all the Thanks for their contribution, dedication, and their professionalism. hard work you've done for us; we I’m sure that once in a while, they’ll stop by the Tanker Base to say Hi are now waiting for your articles, and keep in touch with aerial fire fighting industry. profiles and photos! Let’s not forget and keep Bob Finer and Craig Hunt in our thoughts and their smiles in our memories…

If you wish to contribute to our To all the pilots who joined CFPA this year; Welcome aboard! 2016 Newsletters with articles, stories, Tanker Trainees : Jesse Jenks, Jeff Sheftall,. photos, videos, or just want to suggest interesting links, please Good luck! Have a good training. Study hard and fly smooth… do. Send us your work in text format (txt, doc, docx, rtf) and Have a safe fire season, photos as jpeg files. (And please, no PDF with your own layout!) Jerome T85 / CFPA Newsletter Editor Photos: size 2400 px on the longest side, with your name on the photo (watermark) or in the filename for credit.

And please, feel free to print the Newsletter and share it around!

2- CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 SIY Siskiyou A-05 FOT RRohnerville RRDD A-120 Redding T-96 A-240 O05 A-503 Chester T-94 A-06 UKI T-95 Ukiah A-507 A-110 T-90 CIC T-91 Chico A-210 T-93 STS GOO Sonoma Grass A-140 Valley 2016 T-85 A-230 T-88 T-86 T-89 Air Tactical & Airtanker A-17 Dispatch Map 022 Columbia A-440 T-82 CVH T-83 Hollister A-460 FAT T-80 T-74 Fresno A-15

PRB Paso Robles A-340 A-504 PTV TT-75 Porterville A-410 T-76 & T-78 SMX VCV Santa Maria Southern Logistics A-07 WJF Fox-Field Lancaster A-509 06/07/16 14:40 SBD L-B52 San Bernardino HMT A-12 Hemet-Ryan Denotes CDF Aircraft A-310 T-72 T-73 Denotes USFS Aircraft Denotes BLM Aircraft RNM Ramona Revised April 2016 A-330 T-70 T-71

FF Chris Krowel, Pilot Jim Merryfield, FF Peter Hewson, FF Cameron Morgan, FF Bill Hancock JIM MERRYFIELD - AIR ATTACK PILOT

fter attending San Diego having the time of their lives up ing, but I also learned it wasn't State, I very much en- in the front seats! With their very fulfilling either. I missed A joyed a fulfilling 10 year headsets on, they had NO idea being part of a mission oriented career as a Paramedic. However, what was happening a mere foot crew. The economy took care of there was a moment about 5 behind them. That was it! I was to this problem for me and I was years in that I had a life changing become a pilot. furloughed early in the recession. realization. Along with working on a normal ground ambulance, Next came the usual years of Then came 8 years flying an air I also crewed a medical life flight. training, instructing and then ambulance. My world had come There was one particular "dark cargo. I flew a Cessna 402 from full circle! I was now flying some stormy night" that changed me Eureka to Ukiah to load boxes, paramedics that I had trained to forever. While flying to San Fran- and then on to Sacramento. be paramedics! I loved the mis- cisco, I would often sit in a jump every night in the summer when sion, but deep down, I knew I still seat that faced forward in the I taxied by the Cal Fire base in wanted to join Cal Fire. Cessna 421. That night, my nurse Ukiah, I thought "that is the partner and I had a particularly coolest job flying airplanes". I made it! I'm here! troublesome patient who needed much attention. My frus- After my share of throwing Oh, and by the way.... trations were mounting with my Amazon second day air boxes I'm pretty sure Tim Daly was tasks at hand. And at the mo- around, I found a job flying a cor- one of the guys in the front of ment I was most exhausted, I porate Pilatus and Falcon 50. I that 421 on that dark stormy looked forward to see two pilots learned a ton about corporate fly- night! He still has no idea!

5- CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 HAPPY RETIREMENT !

We wish a happy retirement to our flying legends, Bob Forbes, Tanker pilot at Hemet and Ra- mona Air Attack Bases, Bruce Wickert, Tanker pilot at Fresno AAB, Les Koehler, Air Attack pilot at Hemet AAB, Ted Mundell, Tanker pilot at Porterville AAB and Deen Oehl, Tanker pilot at Hemet AAB. 6

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2 1- Bob Forbes and Jeff Cavarra (Dyncorp Cal Fire avia- tion program Manager) 2- Deen Oehl and Justin McGough (Hemet-Ryan AAB Battalion chief) 3- Les Koeler and Justin McGough 4- Bruce Wickert and Jeff Cavarra 5- Ted Mundell and Justin McGough 6- Tanker 72, Deen Oehl's plane, under airfield firemen water salute for their last flight together!

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Photos by Steve Withby 6- CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 TRIBUTE TO DEEN OEHL

DEEN OEHL, THE DEEN OF TANKERS BY DEAN TALLEY

Deen and a B-47 airtanker business Deen Oehl, Deen-O, is a class act anchoring the position of true gentleman. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard him pass judgment or use an unkind word in reference to an individual although he will give you a criti- cal view of federal firefighting tactics vs. the Cal Fire rapid re- sponse and emphasis on Initial Attack.

At an age when most people have spent fifteen or twenty years perfecting their parcheesi or practicing checkers Deen ap- pears to have finally hung up his spurs. To say he has aged well re- ally doesn’t do him justice. I’ve “Not yet. Hold it. Hold it,” and return,” called the lead. glimpsed bits of his past and met counseled Deen. the flamboyant Carmelita but I “It looked pretty good to me,” wanted know more so I asked It was a long way down a said Deen. him to tell me his story. steep hillside into a narrow canyon with an exit to the West. “Better than the last one. At Deen is second generation The lead finally broke right at the least I had the tank armed,” I from Germany. His grandfather, end of the retardant line. I waited said. father, and his fathers’ brothers a few seconds and touched off processed meat in San the load, held the line for a few Deen glanced at me and the Bernardino. They couldn’t com- seconds longer, then turned crack of a smile appeared. pete with the big corporate busi- right trailing the lead. Deen was nesses that had prospered in leaning forward intent on the I’ve known Deen for over thirty World War II and after so the fam- view through the windscreen. years but I had never flown with ily business was not an option. The lead turned right and him until I was assigned to be his Deen took up flying while com- climbed; we stayed low and flew student. He was 80 when we pleting High School at San straight out into clear air. made the run down the canyon Bernardino and some Junior Col- just west of Hemet three years lege, earning a private license. “We’ll check out the drop and ago. Within the spectrum of char- The Korean War was on-going let you know how it looks. Load acters and personalities in the and the Air Force was looking for

7- CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 TRIBUTE TO DEEN OEHL

Aviation Cadet’s. Deen signed up and traveled to Texas and then to Deen in front of a Sabreliner Georgia to begin his training in a (Deen Oehl Collection) Super Cub. He was right at home. The next step was a T-6 Texan. After mastering the Texan he moved to Texas stepping into the single engine fighter pipeline at Laredo AFB in the new T-28A. The Air Force liked the T-28A because the cockpit resembled the F-86 although Deen’s next ride was a T-33. Meanwhile the Korean War ended.

Next stop Del Rio AFB flying T-33’s shooting up targets with a .50 caliber cannon or bouncing bombs off the turf, skip bomb- ing. What could possibly go wrong? Advanced Fighter Tactics training in the F-84 at Luke AFB, Arizona, followed this. As if he wasn’t having enough fun, why a trial basis. But the chill of the with defenses only in the tail be- not go to Bergstrom AFB, Austin Cold War was changing the cause no fighters could catch it. Texas and work on air-to-air skills strategies and demands of the and formation in an F-84F. Mean- Air Force. Deen was a little vague While living in an apartment while the momentum of the Ko- about his next transition. complex in Riverside Deen met rean War pilot pipeline finally Carmelita and Ray Keown. began to encounter friction. The The Air Force Gods placed Carmelita was a pretty exotic F-84F was used as an “External Deen in the B-47 medium flower. She had been a per- Nuclear Device” delivery, em- bomber based at March AFB, former in the USO in WWII. She ploying the “LABS maneuver” Riverside, California, his old sang and danced supporting the (Low Angle Bombing System): stomping grounds. His training troops and later appeared in sev- later used with the B-47 for took place in Wichita Kansas eral movies. When I met her in Strategic Air Command, SAC, on where he was checked out as a the 1980’s she drove up in a 1983 co-pilot. The Boeing B-47 was the Excalibur, patterned on a 1930’s USAF Fighter F-84F (USAF) country's first swept-wing multi- Mercedes. She wore a floral print engine bomber. It represented a and appeared to be, royalty, the milestone in aviation history and reigning queen of Top Mud. a revolution in aircraft design. When Deen met the couple they Every large jet aircraft today is a owned a Mexican restaurant in descendant of the B-47. Deen Riverside. They became fast transitioned from one engine to friends and later changed the six flying an aircraft equipped course of his life.

8- CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 TRIBUTE TO DEEN OEHL

USAF advanced training plane T-28 (F. Marsaly) orbited Thule for several turns, refuel, then departed west across Queen Elizabeth Islands, the North Pole, and on to Alaska. After once again refueling over the Pacific they flew southeast then returned to Minot.

Deen recounted working 24- 25 days at a time and spoke of mass takeoff’s of B-52s in fifteen second intervals. After ten years the “Who has more fun?” ques- USAF strategic bomber B-52 (F. Marsaly) tion became more than rhetori- cal, Deen decided to put in for his resignation from the Air Force to pursue a more entrepreneurial life in California.

Old Chinese saying; “May you have an interesting life.” Old gringo saying; “I’ve got some bad news and some worse news.” The Air Force wasn’t through with Deen. He got orders to report to C-123 training before Deen qualified as an Aircraft Russians attacked. Fortunately traveling to exotic Viet Nam. Commander and IP, Instructor Dr. Strangelove was not in charge Meanwhile, back in Riverside, Pilot, in the B-47. He flew the B-47 and Deen didn’t have to do a Carmelita and Ray were dis- until 1961 when he transitioned Slim Pickens. traught that their good buddy to B-52s initially training at Castle Deen was not leaving the Air AFB, California. In 1958 SAC es- During the Cuban missile cri- Force to work with them manag- tablished strategic wings at sis in October 1962 the takeoff ing a second restaurant. But they Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, intervals shrank to 15 seconds for still had cards to play. Minot AFB, North Dakota, and loaded B-52s on alert 24/7, mis- Glasgow AFB, Montana. After sions lasting 24 hours. Departing In their circle of friends from training Deen reported to his per- Minot they climbed to 30+ thou- Deen’s time at March AFB was manent duty assignment in sand feet and flew to New Eng- General Old. Carmelita and Ray Minot North Dakota. He spent land then headed out to the approached General Old of the three years at Minot during the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft refu- 15th Air Force Command, and ex- hottest part of the Cold War flying eled over the Atlantic going north pressed their displeasure with B-52s carrying nuclear weapons, to and around Newfoundland, the Air Force decision process. missiles, and Top Secret docu- northwesterly over Baffin Bay to- What happens in Riverside stays ments outlining what to do if the wards Thule Air Base, Greenland, in Riverside so we will never

9- CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 TRIBUTE TO DEEN OEHL

know the details but new orders lightly loaded B-52 ILS depar- materialized and Deen was going tures returning to Wichita. “Just to the Boeing Plant in Wichita bring the nose up to 45 degrees Kansas, Systems Command, and climb back to cruising alti- Flight Test. This is where the tude.” magic happened to B-52s. Air- frames were modified with the While at Systems Command latest weapons and navigation Deen was qualified in the B-52 systems. After modification it fell E,F,G, and H models as an Air- B-52 (USAF) to the crews to calibrate the craft Commander and IP. His rank weapons systems at bomb was captain but he was often the his descent right away, eventu- ranges in Arkansas and operating Aircraft Commander to higher- ally terrain following. He buzzed out of Fort Smith. ranking officers hoping to build the field at Grass Valley before time, qualifications or meet flight landing at Beal AFB. It was years Unlike SAC they were down in time minimums. Deen was in later Deen learned his co-pilot on the dirt, 150-500 feet. I got the charge of scheduling when air- that flight, Dick Miller, had died feeling Deen found this more ap- craft were ready to return to flying an F7F out of Ukiah work- pealing than flying nukes at flight squadrons and he liked to write ing fires. He finally understood levels. They also tested and cali- himself in for the California runs. they had been buzzing the base brated the new “Low Level Ter- On one flight to Beal AFB his right that day. Pretty cool when the rain Avoidance and Following seater asked if he could take the first time you do a low pass on a Radar System” and coupled ILS plane as they approached the tanker base it’s in a B-52. approach systems. He had a Sierras. Deen relinquished the gleam in his eyes recounting controls. He said the guy started I asked Deen what he pre- ferred flying in the Air Force. He said he would have stuck with Strategic Air Command B-47 (USAF) single engine fighters but the job at Systems Command held his in- terest as well. Two years into his tour at Systems Command Deen’s resignation was approved. It had been twelve years in the Air Force.

In 1964 Deen started a new career, restaurant manager. Carmelita and Ray opened a new restaurant in Tustin, Orange County, California. Deen worked with their son at the new loca- tion. At the time Deen wasn’t quite through with the Air Force. He joined a Reserve Squadron at March AFB: they operated C-119s.

10 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 TRIBUTE TO DEEN OEHL

C-119 USAF (F. Marsaly)

After one year he decided the re- public” was one reason he had cation. At some point they serve gig wasn’t working with his no interest in the airlines. It moved from Riverside to Hemet day job but it was a harbinger of wasn’t completely clear to me and commuted to work. They left the future. but Carmlita and Rays’ son went the business in 1979. Another fif- on to other endeavors and the teen years had passed and Deen Deen didn’t have a lot to say second restaurant was closed. was looking for a third career. about the restaurant business, Deen continued to work with Ray his occupation from 1964 until and Carmelita at the Riverside lo- to be continued… 1979. He said he learned to deal with “the public” but he did not B-52 (F. Marsaly) enjoy it. He said dealing with “the

B-52 in flight (USAF)

T-6 Texan (USAF)

11 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 CFPA NEWS

AERIAL FIRE FIGHTING INTERNATIONAL 2016

Global Supertanker Services new Boeing 747-400 Tanker 944 This year, the International (see page 18 for full story). (Jim Dunn) Aerial Firefighting Conference, organized by Tangent Link, was back in Sacramento McClellan. Along an extensive two-day pro- gram, speakers covered every aspect of our business. On the morning of the second day, a static exibition and flight display was held on the airfield. The first public appearance of the brand new Global Supertanker Services Boeing 747-400 was obviously the main highlight of the show, but many other planes and heli- copters were not to be missed. H215 (new name for the former AS332 family) presented by Airbus Helicopters with a charming Tangent Link staff crew. In september, Tangent Link will give you rendez-vous in Ade- laide Australia for the Aerial Fire- fighting Conference ASIA and in spring 2017, the event will take place in Nîmes, France.

14 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 Former Aero Union Firestar, now Maffs Corp airplane, take off to Chico. (W. Schult)

Pilatus PC-12 from Colorado Division of Fire Air Sprays's Air Tractors, available with floats Prevention and Control. or not. (Jim Dunn)

Cal Fire OV-10D Bronco with its new 5 blades propellers. To be used as a Lead Plane in California.

15 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 Air Sprays's Air Tractors, available with floats or not.

Civilian UH-60A Black Hawk from Timberline Helicopters, Idaho. (Jim Dunn) RJ-85 Tanker 161 from Conair and Aero Flite. (Jim Dunn)

Tanker 83 from Columbia AAB presented by Cal Fire and Dyncorp.

Bombardier 415 SuperScooper from Aero Flite.

16 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 WALT DARRAN INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTING AWARD 2016

- Tanker pilot Jim Cook, (right) receives his award from the hands of Dave Wardall (CalFire Chief Ret) and AAF board Mem- ber, while Tangent Link Chair- man Rear Admiral Terry Loughran (left), tells the guests about Jim's career and the Fire Traffic Area concept.

During the event dinner of- fered to the Aerial FireFighting Conference participants, the third Walt Darran International Aerial Firefighting Award was pre- sented to Cal Fire pilot, Jim Cook.

In 2001, following a tragic in- flight collision between to CDF Trackers, resulting in the death of both pilots, Jim Cook had a deep thought and designed a "Fire Traffic Aera", a single airspace system which allows crews of dif- ferent aircraft involved in fire- fighting to operate without interfering with each other, thus avoiding any risk of further in- flight collisions. This system has since been adopted for every fire operation in the USA.

It was a giant step for flight safety in firefighting operations and for this, Jim well deserved this Award.

17 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 NEW BOEING 747 SUPERTANKER BY FRÉDÉRIC MARSALY, TRANSLATION FRANCK MÉE.

n December 2013, Evergreen GSS Supertanker at McClellan (W. Schultz) International ceased activity. IAwkward timing: their Super- tanker, which was stored in Marana, Arizona, had just been promised a “call when needed” contract with the US Forest Serv- ice. And these last few years, Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT) which had been awarded call- when-needed contracts have proven very useful, and some- times even more profitable ex- clusive contracts came after hard-working seasons. To be a candidate to these contracts, Boeing 747-100 Tanker 979 had to get back in the air, which needed to find turbojets and perform a C check maintenance operation, a full in- spection of the airframe, en- gines and systems. The whole operation would cost an esti- mated $1 million; Evergreen postponed the check for a few months… and went bankrupt in the meantime. The aircraft re- mained in Marana while her owner’s assets were auctioned. According to the terms of the potential USFS contract, the The Boeing 747 JA8086 landing at Hong Kong in 2010. (Peter Bakema)

plane was to yield $75’000 each pertanker project, created a new, day it was activated, plus $12’000 dedicated company: Global Su- per flight hour, and fuel and re- perTanker Services, LLC. When tardant were to be supplied Evergreen was liquidated, they by the federal organization. Even bought the pressurized drop sys- though USFS promises can be tem, spare parts and patents. fluctuating, these terms were They also acquired a younger, very attractive. Therefore, former more efficient aircraft: the new Evergreen employees, most of Supertanker, third of its kind, is them deeply involved in the Su- based on a Boeing 747-400.

18 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 Global SuperTanker Services chose a 747-400 because of its improved efficiency. 25 years have passed since its inception: the time has now come when big airlines start selling aircraft of this type, and airframes which still have some potential be- come affordable. N744ST has flown 75’000 hours; a properly maintained 747 can log 100’000 N492EV waiting in Victorville in early 2015 (Sawas Garozis) flight hours, which lets her some 25’000 hours to live. As a tanker seldom flies more than 500 Extract from Evergreen Patent showing the layout of internal tanks inside the first Supertanker. hours a year, she could remain active for decades. With new, more powerful en- gines than the previous Super- tankers, this new aircraft can take-off at a maximum weight close to 400 tons, but she prob- ably won’t meet this weight very often in her new career. There- fore, she will have a more favor- able thrust-to-weight ratio, which is obviously interesting for this mission. Her more modern con- ception also implies rationalized maintenance processes, which

N744ST (cn 25308, the 885th 30 April 2016 in Colorado Springs, the new Super- 747 to be produced) was built in tanker tanker conduct its first its first ground drop. 1991 as a Boeing 747-446, and (GSS) first flew on 25 October 1991. Delivered to Japan Airlines the following month and registered JA8086, she would be flying passenger service until 2010. She was then bought as N238AS by AerSale Inc., a company ded- icated to second-hand aircraft market, which turned her into a 747-446(BCF) freighter and sold her to Evergreen (as N492EV) in 2012. In November 2013, when Evergreen ceased operations, she was put on storage in Vic- torville, California.

19 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 The first ever drop test from a fire fighting Boeing 747-400 (Anthony Cornelius) will reduce immobilization times 2016 in Sacramento: she was plane… and when Evergreen and cost for these essential op- the great attraction during the was liquidated, it was nowhere erations. The 747-400 also has a Aerial Fire Fighting conference, to be found! “glass cockpit”, with standard held on McClellan airfield. Consequently, when GSS navigation, systems manage- During her painting stay in bought Evergreen’s fire fighting ment and operating systems Marana, the release system assets, it included only the first conceived for a two-man crew, taken from the first-ever Super- dropping system, which had while previous Supertankers tanker was also installed. This been cleanly stored in Marana. needed a flight engineer to face needs a bit of an explanation. So it is this one, cleared of its the workload of planes con- During the adventures of Ever- now useless pallets but retaining ceived in the late 60s. green’s Supertankers, two suc- its 75’000 liters capacity, which After being bought by GSS, cessive tanks systems were was installed in the new 747-400. N744ST quickly went through a conceived. The first one was As the release system was al- C-check operation in Victorville. made of steel and installed on ready approved by the FAA and On 23 January 2016, she flew to pallets, so it could easily get in the Interagency Airtanker Board Marana, Arizona, to get her and out through the nose door in the Forest Service, the adap- modern, gleaming and spectac- of a Boeing 747-200F, keeping tation should be by quick and ular new painting. She was the multi-purpose abilities of N744ST could be a candidate to christened Spirit of John Muir, the type. This was not possible operations as soon as this sum- after the famous Scottish-Amer- for the former passenger 747- mer. The first ground drops ican writer/adventurer — who 100s, so Evergreen conceived a were made on 30 April 2016 and was also a naturalist and a pio- new, lighter, aluminum-built the next day, she made her first neer in the environmental mechanism, which was perma- test flight and first aerial drop. movement. nently installed through the side Her crew consisted of Cliff Hale, Her now permanent base is cargo door. When the second GSS chief pilot and more impor- in Colorado Springs, but her first Supertanker was stored, the tantly former Evergreen Super- public display was on 22 March whole system was taken off the tanker captain — the man who

20 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 Global Supertanker Services plane at Sacrametno McClellan for the AFF2016 conference. (Jim Dunn)

flew more than 90% of trial and modified the flight deck to the FAA; meanwhile, a second demonstration flights, as well as allow Don Paulsen, our Chief DSO has already been hired and every operational drop. His first Safety Officer and former flight should also be trained as a first officer was Tom Parsons, an ex- engineer, to act as our DSO.” officer. perienced tanker pilot who has Settled in the center jump- This new aircraft also has im- flown with Neptune Aviation. A seat, Don Paulsen will be re- portant room for improvements. third seasoned pilot has also sponsible for selecting the For example, Supertanker oper- been hired: in the process of ex- proper settings for the retardant ations not only need an airfield tending his type rating, he was release system, according to with a long and resistant put in charge of rough terrain the situation and the require- enough runway; they also need testing. ments from the authorities, and an air compressor, necessary to For most passenger or freight then tell the pilots when the de- the pressurized release system. missions, Boeing 747-400s re- vice is ready to drop. In Ever- GSS thinks about installing two quire only a two-man crew, but green’s Supertankers, the flight compressors aboard, so the fire fighting is another deal. GSS engineer was in charge of the plane would be able to arm her invented a third crew member, release system, with some infor- equipment on her own. New named Drop System Operator. mation also displayed on the wiring was pre-installed for po- Bob Soelberg, GSS Vice Presi- cockpit’s center console; on the tential new equipments, notably dent and Supertanker program new installation, everything was for new data management re- manager, explains: “Global Su- designed to be in the DSO’s quirements — thus, the Super- perTanker has felt from the be- reach. This new job could be of- tanker could offer a load of ginning that both pilots need to fered to former flight engineers technical data about it systems be focused on flying and com- as well as seasoned air mechan- as well as its structure. Yet, munications, not drop system ics, with a proper DSO training these modifications are a future set up. For that reason, we have course still to be approved by matter and the aircraft currently

21 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 Tanker 944 first drop (GSS)

still conforms to Evergreen orig- enhanced vision systems or and the main question is: will inal STC: according to Bob Soel- modifying the cockpit so it the USFS, which still lacks some berg, “some pre-positioning of could be used while wearing fire fighting aircraft, honor the components will allow us to re- night vision goggles. No decision promises made to Evergreen in spond to future requests for var- has yet been made, as it is still a 2013? That is the hole point, ious data output. This decision long-term evolution project. though GSS is also talking to [not to make new installations Amongst VLATs, the Super- Australia (who has been suc- right now] was based on the tanker is also unique in being cessfully using one of 10 lack of clear guidance on which qualified to work on oil spills, Tanker’s Douglas DC-10s for the system would be most common Evergreen having entered this last two years) and to the Euro- among the various agencies, as market after the Deepwater pean Union’s Emergency Re- well as our desire not to delay Horizon disaster: N744ST will be sponse Center. the FAA STC process.” able to release oil dispersant as Evergreen’s history has When the second Super- soon as she’ll be certified. Since shown that such a huge plane tanker came in Châteauroux, the dropping system is made of seldom finds missions big France, in July 2009, Evergreen two individual, parallel, inde- enough for her. Yet, these last was already considering night pendent 37’500-liter lines of few years (and especially the operations, thanks to the craft’s tanks, GSS says she could even very rough 2015 season) saw ability to drop higher than con- work as a fire suppression tool very impressive fires and asked ventional tankers and avoid and an oil dispersant vector at for an intensive use of VLATs; risks of flying too close to the the same time. From its base in particularly, the three DC-10s ground. GSS is also working this Colorado Springs, she could belonging to 10 Tanker, LLC way and has already made reach the Gulf of Mexico within have proven more than useful. some preliminary studies in that 3 hours and get anywhere in the Can the new Boeing 747-400 be regard, analyzing experience world in about 20 hours; as says a better match for the next years from L.A. Fire Department heli- Bob Soelberg: “Our niche is the fires? Will the Forest Service fol- copter pilots, who have been ability to respond quickly to low up on GSS’s arguments? The flying by night for years. To add areas of the world where local next few weeks will be decisive night VFR capabilities to the Su- capabilities are limited.” for this exciting project. pertanker, many evolutions are In the near future, certifica- considered, such as installing tion should not be a problem

22 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 ONCE UPON A TIME… IN THE WEST KIT ROBINSON

y earliest recollection of aircraft came at a Macavia DC-6 Tanker 47. Doyle Fire, Doyle CA. 1987. (Kit Robinson) Mvery young age. Ac- cording to my mother and father it was when I was just six months, to a year old. My parents would take me to our local airport (Reno International Airport) to watch air- planes. They said that it was funny watching my face and eyes light up when a 707 or DC-8 would pass overhead. I looked startled, but never cried, my mother said. Later on, our house in Sparks (Nevada) was on the eastern base leg into Reno International and I remember watching the Nevada Air National Guard's RF-101 Voodoos returning from Airport (north of Reno) during sounds of the C-119's as they a mission, they would fly over summer months, that would for- powered up after the drops and the house in groups of two, ever be ingrained in my mind ó seeing them appear over the four, or even eight aircraft. putting me on the path of ridge farther east, was an expe- But it was the sound of the ra- watching and later photograph- rience I will never forget. It was dial engines passing over in the ing tankers. always the sound of the radial forms of the DC-7s, 4s, PB4Ys, My earliest recollection of engines and, in this case, jet en- and C-119s heading out or back tankers was when I was six gines, that drew me back each from fires from the Reno/Stead years old (1972), along with my time. dad (who was my only form of A couple of years later, while Hemet Valley C-119 Tanker 81. transportation at that young visiting family friends in south- Doyle Fire,CA. 1987. age) and his old Super 8mm east Carson City, Nevada, and (Kit Robinson) movie camera he liked to pack directly in the departure path of around with him to film family the Minden-Tahoe Airport, I re- and other events, including avi- member watching DC-7s and 6s ation, we came upon a fire in pass overhead heading to fires. Truckee River Canyon east of But it was a late 70's experience Sparks. The fire was on the that hooked me on air tankers south side of the canyon just for a lifetime. over the ridge line above a rest My father had pulled off of stop (now closed) on I-80 east- Highway 395 Southbound north bound. From our location we of Reno, near the Red Rock exit could not see the drops, but the so we could watch a small fire

23 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 which was threatening a home on a hill south of the highway. I remember getting out of the car and just the smell of smoke and the ash hitting my face was something I would take from the experience, but the best was yet to come. My father yelled out, "Here she comes." I had no idea what he meant, but was soon to find out. There was a growing rum- bling sound and a DC-7 soon materialized from the smoke, it was dropping retardant about DC-6 Tanker 68 Reno Stead NV. Summer 1985. (Kit Robinson) 300 yards south of our location. As she screamed by, the sound, the small spray of retardant that drifted over (just missing us), was all I needed... I was hooked on tankers. By the 1980s I was photo- graphing tankers out of Reno/Stead working large fires like the "Sparks/Mustang Fire" (18’000 acres) in 1981, and the "Zolezzi-Washoe fires" (8’000 acres). The "Mitchell Canyon Fire" (14’000 acres) in 1984, got me my first look at the very different KC-97 Tanker 84, captained by Bob West. Reno Stead Nv. July 22 1985. Antelope Fire (8,000 acres). (Kit Robinson) looking C-123, #63 operated by TBM. I was also lucky enough to photograph the mighty KC-97 DC-7 Tanker 61 departing Reno Stead NV. Summer 1985. First takoff (#84) on July 22, 1985, as she photo I took of a Dc-7. Sound was incredible ! (kit Robinson) was working fires in Antelope Valley area north of Reno/Stead. I obtained my driver's license and a new Canon AE-1 35 mm camera (which I still use to this day). The adventures would grow from here. As my adven- tures in the '90s would take me on missions to photograph every operational large tanker and get action shots on active fires.

24 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 SOFT CRUSH FERMENTATION

I SEARCHEDSEAARRRCCHED FFOROR TTHEHE so simple BEGINNING.BEGINNING. it’s impossible ANDAND I DDISCOVEREDISCOVVEERRED

During the fermentation prprocess,ocess, tobacco leaves generate natural heat. Our Soft Crush Fermentation prprocessocess adds prpressure,essure, a gentle squeeze under weight, that incrincreaseseases the temperaturtemperaturee and duration of this natural heat. Bitterness sweats out while desirdesireded flavors blossom. That's why When I set out to create a Bloodline cigars – made with up to 75% rich ligerligeroo leaves truly different cigar, I knew – offer truly complex flflavor with surprisingly little bite. I had to go about it a different way. I decided to BLONDE LINE HABANO LINE trace the world's best tobaccos back to their original seeds. On a government-sanctioned educational trip to Cuba, I discovered the original growing fields of Cuba’s three CHUR most respected tobacco families: Oliva, Perez and CHILL Progeny 7 x 50 Aganorsa (OPA). The unusually refined qualities of (Torpedo) 7 x 56 their tobacco plants remain in their seed as they now grow in specific regions of Nicaragua. The blend of leaves born of the Cuban OPA fields creates more than a distinct flavor. It creates a BLOODLINE. ROBUSTO Lineage - Micah Johnson 5 x 50 5 x 50

IMPOSSIBLYIMPOSSIBLLYY SMOOTH?SMOOTH? TORO Vestige 6 x 50 A cigar made with Habano Rosado wrapper and 75% 6 x 54 ligero-leaf filler … all from the richest OPA-seed tobacco plants … cannot be smooth. But it is. Amazingly so. Impossibly so. It’s all due to our Soft Crush Fermen- tation process. During fermentation as bundles of tobacco age, we apply weight to add pressure (a “soft BIG TORO Stock 6 x 60 crush”). This increases the temperature and duration of 6 x 60 the natural heat of fermentation. Oils are drawn to the surface, sweating out the bitterness of the ligero leaf while allowing the floral flavors to blossom. The result is pleasure with every puff – a truly bold and complex PETIT LANCERO Stemma flavor with a surprising absence of peppery bite. It is 6½ x 44 6½ x 44 because it shouldn’t work that it has never been tried. And it is precisely why Bloodline OPA is truly different.

CalFire Tanker working on the Sherpa Fire. (credit Mike Elisason via Cal Fire)

GRASS VALLEY AIR ATTACK BASE IS GETTING READY ! BY WES SCHULTZ

27 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016 28 - CFPA NEWS - JULY 2016