January 2016 Noteworthy Movements - Discussion & Photos
 

Please post questions / comments / pictures relating to January Noteworthy Movements here.

Heligroup Fire LLC (N947CH) Billings Flying Service, Inc CH-47D, operated by United Aero as Helitack 279, at Wagga Wagga Airport
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/...85d283e2_c.jpg

Also of note was Erickson Air-Crane "Olga" (N6962R) Sikorsky S-64E calling though arriving at about 5:00PM and departing at about 5:50PM for BWU.

AJJ and AJG (note this has had the one engine removed) Not the best photo (due to the poor light from the cloud cover and storms)
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1537/...a901bbbe_c.jpg

Great to catch the Chinook Robert

Thanks! Almost fell out of my chair when I looked at my VRS (which I took offline during Christmas and only put it back online just before New Year's day). Had two issues, one was light and the other was a near by thunderstorm. Spent 8 hours at the AP today, hoping it would be departing back towards SYD but not the case.

Edit: Turns out it will be based here for the next few weeks

VRS yesterday (thumbnails clickable).
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/...8c200bbd_n.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1683/...63ee7180_n.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5659/...ddbce5d9_c.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5759/...56189fcc_c.jpg

Though did get to see this amateur built Steen Skybolt call in for fuel, heading south to its new owner.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5664/...8e563f11_c.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1607/...8ed53ee8_c.jpg

Is that the first civil Chinook to operate in Aus ?

Sure is! Also nicknamed "Big Linda".

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1605/...ffce969d_c.jpg

Fitted with two Lycoming T55-GA-714A engines
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1546/...f4fa3103_c.jpg
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5654/...75003d71_c.jpg

Nice Shots, Robert.

Sydney is wet, hopefully it will head south.

How does the Chinook compare to the SkyCranes in water lifting capacity ?

This Chinook has a 2,000 (US) gallon bambi bucket, which works out to be around 7,500 litres. S-64E tank holds around 2,300 (US) gallons, which converts to 9,000 litres [though National Aerial Firefighting Centre has 7,560 litres]. While it holds less water, the CH-47D has a better fuel burn (can stay in the for air longer) and the bambi bucket also has four pumps, so it can use water sources of any depth.

There is another (N948CH) that is owned by Helifire Group that has internal tank(s) with a suction hose but unsure on the capacity.

Nice to get up close with the Chinook Robert !

As I mentioned when she arrived, she also travels a lot quicker than the sky crane. The Lorne skycrane I also noted was operating with a Bambi which may have been due to the location.