WILDFIRE RESEARCH NETWORK

Two former commercial airliner wide-bodied jets, a DC-10 and a 747, have been converted to air tankers via

private ventures. The DC-10 Super Tanker has a capacity of 12,000 gallons and the 747 Supertanker has a

capacity of 20,000 gallons. These capabilities significantly exceed the drop capacities of the largest current air

tankers, which have only 3,000 gallon class capacities.

DC-10 High Capacity Air-Tanker

The DC-10 High Capacity Air-Tanker, developed with private capital by Omni Air International and Cargo Conversions,

San Carlos, CA, received its FAA Supplemental Type Certification in March 2006. The aircraft was reviewed

by the Tanker Board at the National Interagency Fire Center, Boise, Idaho. The airplane uses gravity a drop system

similar to current air tankers. The DC-10 was used operationally in California in 2006 and 2007 under the auspices

of Cal Fire and received good reviews from fire managers.

The Evergreen 747 High Capacity Air-Tanker, also developed with private capital, is pursuing its FAA STC

Certification. The High Capacity Air-Tanker uses a high pressure system to propel water onto a wildfire through

four openings at the bottom of the aircraft's fuselage.

Both the DC-10 and the 747 are expected to be operationally capable of direct suppression by dropping water

or other suppressant directly on the head of a wildfire, as well as dropping on the flanks. If successful, direct

attacks on the heads of wildfires will be a unique capability previously not provided by air tankers.

Two additional large capacity air-tankers have recently been added to the candidates list:

1) Martin Mars water-scooping flying boat - 7,200 gallon capacity

2) IL-76 European military transport conversion - 18,000 gallon capacity