[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by jhowes

I don't understand why we (are government) doesn't do something about it. My suggestion would be to take about 100 of the large military and civilian aircraft that are retired and sit on the desert and convert them into fire-fighters. Place a National Guard there and have them head for any forest fire immediately with the "shock and awe" approach that we used in the first gulf war. With that many planes the fire should be knocked down before it burns any homes and hundreds of acres. Then send in the ground forces to mop up any residual embers. I can't see how this would be a cost issue when you consider the loss of property, homes, forest, animals, etc. as we seem to have fires every year somewhere. They could even fly to Australia or other locations that are in fire trouble. Just my thoughts. Jack

Jhowes,
There ARE a LOTS of planes that have been converted. Here, we have a HUGE Fire Fighting Base, you should see some of the HUGE Planes they fly into the Mountains, braving the WINDS/UP-DRAFTS/ETC One looks like a 767 & one is a HUGE, 6 Engine Turboprop, "maybe" a Constellation???
Friend, Rex, flew some 2 Engine plane, that had 2, 1700 Hp engines, installed!
Our Planes serve many areas, when needed. It costs Tax Payers a LOTS of MONEY & most of the time, they're just SITTING!
Their PILOTS are my GREAT HEROS, they are SUPERB PILOTS.
On my "BUCKET" list, is a desire to get 20 Minutes instruction & FLY an Open Cockpit, Biplane. Here, they used to be used for Crop Dusting, out on the Ranch, I used to FLAG for them! (WHOOOSH!)
Bill Snoopy