Bankstown Sunday 11th Jan 2009

Grahame Hutchison · #1 11th January 2009, 04:26 PM

I took a friend from the Rural Fire Brigade out for a flight up to the Hawkesbury and back along the Northern Beaches this morning, so we thought it would be worthwhile to have a closer look at the Air-Cranes. My friend has been out fighting bushfires where the Air-Cranes have been used, and this was his first chance to see one up close (a little larger than he expected).

Today Malcolm and Delilah were at Bankstown, I am not sure where the third Air-Crane has gone to. Delilah was just parked on the taxiway Alpha 4, while Malcolm was receiving some attention from the engineers. Although Malcolm is listed as an E model on the FAA register, it has the double wheel main undercarriage of the F model. Malcolm also has the fixed inlet extension fitted for refilling the water tank on the move, as well as the drop hose. Delilah only has the drop hose.

On the walk back to Schofields we saw the Catalina N160AT and DC-3 VH-DNA parked on the grass between Alpha 4 and Mike 2.

I had a good look around the airport for the Grumman Goose, but nothing to be seen.

S64E N194AC Delilah

S64E N194AC Delilah

S64E N194AC Delilah - note the size of the bubble side windows.

S64E N217AC Malcolm

Catalina N160AT and DC-3 VH-DNA with the port engine missing.

Robert Zweck · #2 12th January 2009, 01:05 PM

Grahame,

At Essendon on Dec 30th was....

N219AC
N179AC

Did not get the names on the nose

At Parafield on Saturday there were 3 fire fighting helicopters

N49732 Bell 412-B1
N232HL Bell 205 "534" and "Harry"
VH-FUY Bell206 L

All 3 were involved with a bush fire at Cobdogla in the Riverland last week.