Fire Tankers at Hill AFB

Real World Aviation Spotting
1

Over the last couple of days while working at Hill AFB, I’ve gotten the chance to see some of the many fire tanker aircraft that dive head first into the blaze!

If you’re curious how I got so close to them, I’m a certified parking tender. I park these bad boys when they show up to Hill! I’m currently training some new people to be parking tenders so I’m able to take pictures while they’re in action!

Since I joined back in 2022, this is the first time I’ve seen the Erickson Aero Tanker MD87 in person as well as the first time seeing an MD80 aircraft!

IMG_7671
IMG_76712856×2142 1.62 MB

IMG_7665
IMG_76654032×3024 1.48 MB

IMG_7670
IMG_76705712×4284 3.74 MB

IMG_7669
IMG_76695712×4284 3.6 MB

Another first for me is getting to see the Coulson C130 in person. This aircraft is crazy loud. You can feel it in the ground before it even gets to you 🫨

IMG_7673
IMG_76734032×3024 1.79 MB

IMG_7674
IMG_76745712×4284 2.75 MB

IMG_7672
IMG_76725712×4284 2.18 MB

IMG_7675
IMG_76755712×4284 3.49 MB

This was the most exciting tanker to show up and it’s thanks to our tanker base manager. The Coulson 737! I’ve wanted to see this aircraft in person for years but never got the chance until now!

IMG_7679
IMG_76792856×2142 1.88 MB

IMG_7680
IMG_76805712×4284 3.3 MB

If fires continue to start and get big enough in Utah, these tankers will be a daily sighting for me! Hopefully I can see the BAe146, RJ85, and the Q400 before the end of the season.

Hope you like my photos!

22 Likes
2

Yo. I’ve seen these so much around California area. Great pics btw

1 Like
3

Awesome pictures! I remember Hill AFB from a Sam Eckholm video, out of curiosity do you ever see F35s?

1 Like
4

Yep. Non-stop actually. The building I’m in is always shaking from the amount of sound they produce

1 Like
5

Makes me very happy to see the ‘ol ’Mad Dog’ getting some time in instead of a scrap yard somewhere!

Thanks for the pix Phorza!

1 Like
6

That’s awesome :)

7

Nice pics, when do the big aircraft come out.

1 Like
8

Actually read what he said 😉

9

Typically we receive LATs (Large Air Tankers) for any large fire near by. We can’t support anything bigger unfortunately like the 10 Tanker DC-10

1 Like
10

At least you get something, I’d be stoked to get these tankers taking off and landing up in my area. They always go to Klamath Falls Redmond and Medford which are to far away for me to visit only for a chance they’re there

11

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.