Here's a new proposal to fight fires with aircraft
In the Vietnam War the military modified several C-130 aircraft to gun ships with much firepower. They would fly these aircraft in tight circles around a small ground target and direct their guns on that target. They were very successful.
It is proposed to use this technique to fight forest fires. Instead of bullets it is pouring water, lots of water on the target fire and accurately.
On the selected aircraft, water tank(s), a highly controllable water cannon, a very large pump, and an operator's control station would be installed. To improve the accuracy of the delivery system it is proposed to use a control system similar to the one for the main gun of the AIM1 Abrams tank. (The task is similar as the system keeps the gun on target as the tank traverses rough terrain for a first shot kill.)
In operation the aircraft would circle the target with full flaps for maximum lift and minimum safe speed, dumping its water payload at a very high rate, estimated 5,000 GPM with the pump supplying water at 500 psi to 1,000 psi to a highly controllable water cannon. As the fire is extinguished the operator moves the stream to other fire areas. It would be like having a grossly oversized fire truck stationed about 3,000 feet above the fire with the fireman directing his water nozzle to accurately hit targets anywhere the fireman chooses. The major difference is the water comes from onboard tank(s) and not from a fire hydrant and is very limited in quantity so several additional tanker aircraft may be needed.
This capability does not exist or even come close in any other equipment. It is truly a major breakthrough in fighting nature's worst enemy - the forest fire.
This capability opens many new doors, especially with adequate numbers of these tanker aircraft. Imagine being able to accurately hit a small target on the ground like a home the first try thus saving it from the fire or more likely just keeping the fire at bay. Imagine to start extinguishing the forest fire starting at one end of the fire line and bit by bit extinguishing it all the way to the other end, all systematically. Imagine being able to extinguish a forest fire solely from the air with no need for ground personnel to make fire breaks, etc. Imagine being able to extinguish a forest fire in a few hours and never more than a day. Imagine being called upon by a municipal fire department to help extinguish a structure fire (with fire exposed) inside a city. Imagine if our nation had a fleet of 50 or more of these tanker aircraft, what their impact would be. Yes, this capability opens many new doors.
If our elected leadership are appraised of this superior capability they should be willing to get the ball rolling for its development.
The concept is to use very large aircraft (C-5As, 747s, C-17s, DC 10s, etc.) although smaller aircraft could be used too. On used aircraft dedicated to this mission, everything not needed for it (Air-conditioning packs, interiors, passenger seats, passenger windows and skinned over, etc. would be removed and that weight would be added back as water weight. Also since there is no demand for their extended range, their center fuel tank could be converted to a water tank. For selected military aircraft kits consisting of structural modifications for the equipment, the necessary plumbing and electrical modifications and the aircraft would continue to be used for defense. When they are needed for forest fire duty the balance of the equipment would be installed. The optimum aircraft for this mission would be a new one designed for it.
Since forest, grassland, brush, etc. fires are a problem in many nations, they would want these aircraft, but they should also share in its development costs. They should also be invited to bid on developing some of the equipment needed, too.
Joseph C. Coomer is a resident of Oak Harbor, Wash.