Aircraft fighting Australia’s bushfires

A combination of aircraft including helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and larger air-tankers, able to reach the most inaccessible regions, provide a crucial role in battling Australia’s worst bushfires on record


KEY AIRCRAFT: National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) fleet of around 130 aircraft boosted by up to 500 aircraft from more than 150 operators


DC-10 VERY LARGE AIR TANKER
Crew: 3
Role: Firebombing – drops foam, gel or fire retardant solutions 
Tank: 45,000 litres

COULSON B737 AIR TANKER
Crew: 2.
Role: Firebombing 
Tank: 15,142-L

COULSON C130Q AIR TANKER
Crew: 3 
Role: Firebombing 
Tank: 15,450-L

ERICKSON S-64E AIR CRANE 
Crew: 2
Role: Firebombing
Tank: 7,560-L
Hover-fill and sea-skimming snorkel

BELL 212
Crew: 2
Role: Firebombing, fire crew transporting
Tank: 1,475-L

Human to scale


Sources: Australian Government, NAFC, BBC
Picture Getty Images
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