Fire Bombing

Fire Bombing can be conducted from helicopters or fixed wing aircraft.

Helicopters deliver retardant by the use of a tank attacked to the belly of the aircraft or a bucket suspended by cables attached to the cargo hook.

Fixed wing aircraft generally carry the retardant in internal "hoppers'.

Aircraft use either short or long term retardants.

Short term retardants, water or water and "bushfire" firefighting foams ("A" class foam) rely almost solely on their ability to retain moisture, thereby cooling the fire.  Once the water evaporates the retarding action ends.  Short term retardants are usually applied directly to the fire.

Long term retardants not only coat the fuel, therefore acting as a physical barrier, but also contain a chemical which alters the combustion process to retard the fire chemically.  The dry powder products are mixed with water to form a slurry.


Generally the short term retardant is referred to as "Water" or "Foam" (when water is mixed with foam) and long term retardant is referred to as "Retardant".

Single Engine Firebombers
Depending of the type of aircraft the capabilities of single engine firebombers can range from:

  • hopper capacity      800 litres - 3150 litres

  • fuel consumption  70lt/hr - 200 lt/hr

  • cruise speed          180 km/h - 280 km/h


Multiple Engine Firebombers
Multiple Engine Firebombers have seen wide spread service overseas.  These aircraft can range from converted military bomber, maritime or transport aircraft, civilian passenger or transport aircraft and purpose built aircraft such as the Canadair CL 415 and CL 215.


Helitankers
Depending of the type of aircraft the capabilities of Helitankers can range from:

  • tank or bucket      500 lt - 9000 lt

  • fuel consumption  120lt/hr - 2000 lt/hr

  • cruise speed          200 km/h - 296 km/h


Other Aircraft

Aircraft used by Air Attack Supervisors, Fire Spotters and Mappers can differ from fixed to rotary wing and single or twin engine.