Tag Archives: firefighter

Air Tractor Exercises

When I posted the Conair Q400 ops a while back, I focused on the larger tankers. However, there is a role for the small tankers too and the Air Tractor is one such plane. These can be used as spotters for the larger tankers, but they can also drop loads onto a fire if needed as well. A couple of them planes were up doing pattern work, presumably getting some currency in for the crews. Since they are a smaller plane, they were happy using the cross runway which meant they came directly over where I was. Cool little things to watch.

Philippine Mars Awaits Its Turn

By the time this post goes live, Philippine Mars will probably have made its final trip from Vancouver Island to Arizona where it is joining the Pima museum collection. Whether I have got to see it on that journey or not, I don’t know when I am writing this. It is supposed to make a couple of stops en route but will I be there? During the visit to see the Hawaii Mars prepare for its last flight, Philippine was sitting on the ramp at Sproat Lake being prepared for its move. From the water we could get a reasonable view of it up on the slipway. Fingers crossed I get to see it fly but who knows.