How Much Does A Fire Plane Cost?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Class Aircraft Availability VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker) DC-10

$55,000
BAe-146 $29,000 Helicopter Fire Hawk $15,800 Kaman 1200 – Kmax $13,000

How much does a fire retardant drop cost?

In 2020, the federal government and state agencies dropped over 56 million gallons (211,983,060 liters) of retardant, which costs on average

$3.10 per gallon

, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

How much does a firefighting 747 cost?

Evergreen proposed to convert up to 4 Boeing 747-200 airplanes into fire fighting systems and spent millions to convert the first 747-200 to firefighting supertanker. The initial cost of the first 747 was

$79 million for

the airplane itself, plus an additional $40 million to convert it to a supertanker.

How much is a VLAT?

Content: There are two VLAT aircraft identified in the Interagency Airtanker Base Directory. The DC-10 which holds 9,400 gallons of retardant and the 747 which holds 19,200 gallons of retardant. An airtanker is considered a VLAT if

it can hold 5000 gallons of retardant or more

.

How much does a global supertanker cost?

The SuperTanker has helped in many Western wildfires and was deployed in Israel in 2016 and in Chile in 2017. Costs can run

as much as $250,000 a day

. Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.

Who pays for fire retardant?

The Fire Prevention Fee is an annual fee, effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2017, for fire prevention services.

Owners of habitable structures in the State’s Responsibility Area (SRA)

, on record as of July 1 each year, are required by law to pay the fee.

Is fire retardant toxic to humans?

The chemicals used in fire retardants can be mildly irritating to humans, but

have no serious health effects

.

How much fire retardant can a 747 hold?

Most large air tankers carry up to 3,000 gallons of retardant. The 747 is capable of carrying far more retardant than any other. When first introduced it was listed at 20,000 gallons. Then the federal government certified it at

19,200 gallons

.

Who owns supertanker?

Orlando-based

National Airlines

announced this week that it has acquired the Global SuperTanker and will be returning Tanker 944 back into cargo configuration to join the companies fleet of cargo aircraft that comprises of five Boeing 747-400 aircraft, a Boeing 757-200 and an A300-200.

What is the largest fire fighting airplane?

The US-made

Boeing 747 Supertanker

, which has a capacity of 19,200 gallons of water or 18,000 gallons of fire retardant, goes down in the history books as the world’s largest firefighting plane.

How much fuel does a DC 10 HOLD?

Variant -10 -30 Fuel capacity

21,762 US gal / 82,376 L


36,652 US gal / 137,509 L
Engines ×3 GE CF6-6D GE CF6-50C Thrust ×3 40,000 lbf / 177.92 kN 51,000 lbf / 226.85 kN Cruise Mach 0.82 (473 kn; 876 km/h) typical, Mach 0.88 (507 kn; 940 km/h) MMo

How much does a gallon of fire retardant weigh?

Each gallon of mixed retardant contains the equivalent of

1.90 pounds

or approximately 0.15 gallons of liquid concentrate.

What is in the pink fire retardant?

Long-term retardants, mixed for delivery to the fire, contain about

85 percent water, 10 percent fertilizer, and 5 percent minor

ingredients: colorant (iron oxide – rust, or fugitive color that fades with exposure to sunlight), thickener (natural gum and clay), corrosion inhibitors, stabilizers, and bactericides.

How much does a super scooper cost?

Super Scoopers are the only planes in the world specifically designed to fight wildfires. At

$30 million

, the CL-415EAF is one of the most expensive aerial firefighting aircraft ever made.

How much water does a plane drop?

The aircraft can carry 7,200 gallons of water or retardant and their drop can cover an

area of up to 4 acres

.

What fire retardant do planes drop?

What fire crews are dropping on fires is called

Phos-Chek

, which is an 88% water-based retardant mixed with a non-toxic commercial grade fertilizer. It’s has a clay-based dye to make it visible from the air and on the ground. Cal Fire has been dropping retardant constantly during the 2021 wildfire season.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.