You missed the most important part of the Cal Fire aviation system. The dozen or so bases around the state that deploy the OV-10 Bronco control aircraft and several S-2T Turbo Tracker medium tankers. They are on scene in minutes. Get to one of those bases and check out the ops. It's an ingenious system.
I know I wish I could have gotten more of those. The only S-2T and OV-10 I saw were on the move, so I wasn’t able to get much on them. I did go to the Columbia Air Attack Base the next day and got to see everything briefly, but the company I was with got called to a fire. I plan on going back in 2025 before the season to create more videos.
On the scene in minutes? LOL They took 24 hours to get to the recent Mountain fire in Ventura and by that time half of Camarillo was burned down. Your tax money at "work" . Here's an idea....don't have brush around your home so it wont burn and quit building homes out of wood sticks. Then we don't need expensive agencies as CalFire and their cool planes.....(which are totally cool, and totally unnecessary if we were actually prepared for fire).
I was in the 126th Medical Company at Mather in Sacramento. We were the first military unit to fly the Fire Hawk. The tanks were made by Aero Union in Chico, California.Many of our Hueys were transferred to CAL Fire for the conversion. Fire fighting is the most demanding flying outside of combat that you can do and is extremely rewarding.
I have honor of fueling Cal Fire during their missions and it amazes me every time how fast they turn around each flight. Truly a finely tuned machine.
With CA Fire budget @ approx. 2.95 billion all while CA State total budget is approx..$ 311 billion. That means less than 1% or less than a penny of CA taxpayers dollar go towards CA Fire. So don’t feel better quite yet the Sacramento is blowing our money (more than any other state in union) faster than they can steal it from its citizens.
Great video! Cal Fire and the local agencies really do an incredible job. It would be great if you could do a follow up video on the Canadian made Super Scooper aircraft. LA County has partnered with and leased 2 of them every year and they fly down from Quebec and stay here, with crew, a minimum of 3 months. And they’re just amazing to watch in action, drawing water from lakes and sometimes even the Pacific Ocean!
Thank you! I've actually been working on getting access to Bridger Aerospace who run a large fleet of them. I have another video in works about the Chinooks out on the Boone fire last month.
CalFire is awesome! Cal Fire is expertly exploiting excess aircraft from multiple military services to completely contain and control fires! Bravo, Cal Fire!
No they aren't, they're giant bloated make work union employed boondoggle. They can't even fly their fancy planes during a Santa Ana wind condition which is precisely when the fire burns your house down! You have NO CLUE what you're talking about.
I grew up just North of McClellan AFB back when the F111 and Connie radar planes there. Right next to the Calfire HQ is the California Air and Space museum and a must see
@@trevorwert Yep, after they would worked on the F111 they would do a test flight. As soon as the plane got off the ground they would go straight up. I went to an open house at the base and they had an F111 wing that had a bird strike that opened up the wing and you could see the honeycomb interior of the wing
Thank you! I would definitely take you up on that. I was at the Columbia base for a day, but wasn’t able to really check it out. Feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram or and email at the one in my about section.
Since you were making a video of Cal Fire aviation it would seem obvious that stating how many total and of each type of aircraft as well as the number of pilots and mechanics. You were literally right there.
Are the MLG struts on the FireHawk different than the regular H-60s, or are one of the chambers just maxed out on nitrogen pressure to keep it extended like that?
Good question! If you’re talking about the C-130s, they only have one of the seven operational. Three are in the process of being converted and three more are waiting to be converted.
You can find great deals on used gear from places like MPB.com and LensRentals.com. I just checked both of them and you can get a Nikon Z6 and 200-500mm lens for less than $2k. I used that setup for a long time and it worked great! I still use that lens. Z6: www.lensrentals.com/buy/nikon-z6 Lens: www.lensrentals.com/buy/nikon-200-500mm-f5.6e-ed-af-s-vr FTZ Adapter: www.lensrentals.com/buy/nikon-ftz-mount-adapter
I'm not sure about each aircraft, but I believe they have 72 total aircraft, plus a lot of others that are contracted from different companies. I do know they have 7 of the C-130s, one of which is fully prepped, three being retrofitted with the tanks and three waiting for their upgrades.
California needs to get some of the new seaplanes out of Japan, US-2, and modify them for water-scooping so that they can be deployed across the state utilizing reservoirs and lakes. California needs the speed and capacity.
Those Calfire Hercs sat on the ramp literally for years unused waiting for their safety certifications. Absolute waste of taxpayer money and loss of potential firefighting assets.
Well considering that Cal Fire did not purchase them is a saving to tax payers, they had to strengthen the wing box and other components, install radios and other Cal Fire required safety equipment and then get them FAA certified. Tanker 117 is in service.
You missed the most important part of the Cal Fire aviation system. The dozen or so bases around the state that deploy the OV-10 Bronco control aircraft and several S-2T Turbo Tracker medium tankers. They are on scene in minutes. Get to one of those bases and check out the ops. It's an ingenious system.
I know I wish I could have gotten more of those. The only S-2T and OV-10 I saw were on the move, so I wasn’t able to get much on them. I did go to the Columbia Air Attack Base the next day and got to see everything briefly, but the company I was with got called to a fire. I plan on going back in 2025 before the season to create more videos.
On the scene in minutes? LOL They took 24 hours to get to the recent Mountain fire in Ventura and by that time half of Camarillo was burned down. Your tax money at "work" . Here's an idea....don't have brush around your home so it wont burn and quit building homes out of wood sticks. Then we don't need expensive agencies as CalFire and their cool planes.....(which are totally cool, and totally unnecessary if we were actually prepared for fire).
I was in the 126th Medical Company at Mather in Sacramento. We were the first military unit to fly the Fire Hawk. The tanks were made by Aero Union in Chico, California.Many of our Hueys were transferred to CAL Fire for the conversion. Fire fighting is the most demanding flying outside of combat that you can do and is extremely rewarding.
That's really cool! I totally agree; it seems really demanding and gratifying.
@@trevorwert And needless if we had sensible building codes and fire management practices.
I have honor of fueling Cal Fire during their missions and it amazes me every time how fast they turn around each flight. Truly a finely tuned machine.
That’s awesome! The turnaround time of everything they do is really impressive.
I live near Grass Valley Air Attack base. Every time they launch I feel a little better about paying taxes in California 😅
Nice! I went to the Columbia base right after this. They had a Firehawk, Chinook, and some S-2Ts there.
Your tax dollars atnwork
Lol you think your tax dollars are going to that?no my friend its going to fund illegals,
With CA Fire budget @ approx. 2.95 billion all while CA State total budget is approx..$ 311 billion. That means less than 1% or less than a penny of CA taxpayers dollar go towards CA Fire. So don’t feel better quite yet the Sacramento is blowing our money (more than any other state in union) faster than they can steal it from its citizens.
@straightpride442 I've heard some great things about the new high-speed railway😅
This is awesome! What a thrill to see these amazing machines up close.
It was a really cool experience. I nerded out for a while in that hangar🤓
Great video! Cal Fire and the local agencies really do an incredible job. It would be great if you could do a follow up video on the Canadian made Super Scooper aircraft. LA County has partnered with and leased 2 of them every year and they fly down from Quebec and stay here, with crew, a minimum of 3 months. And they’re just amazing to watch in action, drawing water from lakes and sometimes even the Pacific Ocean!
Thank you! I've actually been working on getting access to Bridger Aerospace who run a large fleet of them. I have another video in works about the Chinooks out on the Boone fire last month.
CalFire is awesome! Cal Fire is expertly exploiting excess aircraft from multiple military services to completely contain and control fires! Bravo, Cal Fire!
No they aren't, they're giant bloated make work union employed boondoggle. They can't even fly their fancy planes during a Santa Ana wind condition which is precisely when the fire burns your house down! You have NO CLUE what you're talking about.
whats the song at the start and im a volunteer member ses and training to be a pilot paramedic, love the video mate
I grew up just North of McClellan AFB back when the F111 and Connie radar planes there. Right next to the Calfire HQ is the California Air and Space museum and a must see
As a kid I used too watch the f-16s take off from my uncles back yard rite at the end of the strip🎉❤
Oh man, that must have been cool!
@@trevorwert Yep, after they would worked on the F111 they would do a test flight. As soon as the plane got off the ground they would go straight up. I went to an open house at the base and they had an F111 wing that had a bird strike that opened up the wing and you could see the honeycomb interior of the wing
Unrestricted takeoffs are so cool. It's amazing how much damage birds can do.
Great video very informative
Glad you liked it!
Great video man! I'm a helicopter pilot for Cal Fire in Norcal. If you ever want to come check out the Helitack base, we'd be happy to show you around
Thank you! I would definitely take you up on that. I was at the Columbia base for a day, but wasn’t able to really check it out. Feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram or and email at the one in my about section.
Evergreen International 747........the best!
Wow this is mind blowing insane. Need to get fired up everyday to fight fires or get fired.
Since you were making a video of Cal Fire aviation it would seem obvious that stating how many total and of each type of aircraft as well as the number of pilots and mechanics. You were literally right there.
I believe they said 72 total aircraft, plus a lot of others that they contract from different companies for the season.
Thanks. Chinooks are my favorite helos.
Nice! I’m working on another video specifically about the Chinook.
My almost son in law is on one of the Blackhawks in San Bernardino CA.
That’s awesome!
S2 … my favorite
Those are really cool. The only one I saw that day was taking off, so I didn't get anything of them.
THIS IS RUBEN AMEN
THANK GOD FOR FIRE FIGHTERS ❤️🌍🌎🙏✌️
Absolutely!
Instead of revering firefighters, maybe don't live in homes made out of matchsticks surrounded by brush?
the 47 is a great platform lots of hours in them in Afg
It really is! I’m working on another video specifically about the CH-47. Thank you for your service!
I see the coulson unical chinook fly over my house every day!!!
Awesome!
C-130s are from the Coast Guard. I flew in a couple of them at Airstation Kodiak. I’m not a pilot, just familiarization flights.
Yep! I think they told me these ones came from Florida. I’d love to fly in one.
@@trevorwert It can be a thrill in Alaska weather! And I loved your video.
I can imagine! And it's probably beautiful flying too. Thank you so much!
A "Bambi Bucket" slung underneath.
Actually Phos-Chek is a brand name, like Ibuprofen and Motrin, in Wildland Fire we just refered to it a Aerial Fire Retardant
😢...Located rite next too my old A&P program❤🎉
Are the MLG struts on the FireHawk different than the regular H-60s, or are one of the chambers just maxed out on nitrogen pressure to keep it extended like that?
It’s actually a hardware package that extends it, so it’s similar, but better for ground clearance for the big tank.
@@trevorwert Thanks.
Hey you didn't give any love to the S2T retardant aircraft!
The only one I saw was taking off, so I wasn’t able to capture anything with them.
What is the operational % of the fleet? It has been reported that there have been some significant problems and delays in the conversion processes.
Good question! If you’re talking about the C-130s, they only have one of the seven operational. Three are in the process of being converted and three more are waiting to be converted.
Cal fire also uses Australian RFS water bomber
There weren’t any of those around when I was there
What was the small plane with odd wings?
That’s an OV-10 Bronco
@trevorwert thank you. Never seen one before
They’re really cool. That was the only one is saw that day and I wish I could have gotten a closer look at one.
Do you got any recs for an aviation setup under 2k usd?
You can find great deals on used gear from places like MPB.com and LensRentals.com. I just checked both of them and you can get a Nikon Z6 and 200-500mm lens for less than $2k. I used that setup for a long time and it worked great! I still use that lens.
Z6: www.lensrentals.com/buy/nikon-z6
Lens: www.lensrentals.com/buy/nikon-200-500mm-f5.6e-ed-af-s-vr
FTZ Adapter: www.lensrentals.com/buy/nikon-ftz-mount-adapter
I built those C-130 props!!! I work for pacific propeller international. Kent WA
Yeah, a sling shot
Nice! You’re not too far from me.
How many of each to the operate?
I'm not sure about each aircraft, but I believe they have 72 total aircraft, plus a lot of others that are contracted from different companies. I do know they have 7 of the C-130s, one of which is fully prepped, three being retrofitted with the tanks and three waiting for their upgrades.
California needs to get some of the new seaplanes out of Japan, US-2, and modify them for water-scooping so that they can be deployed across the state utilizing reservoirs and lakes. California needs the speed and capacity.
I had to look them up. They look like awesome planes. Almost looks like a bigger more modern version of the Super Scooper.
As a Californian that’s ashamed of my states Politics. I’m proud to say that Cal Fire is the best Fire Fighting Organization in the World.
They really are! I was so impressed with everything.
OK boomer 😂 !!!
Ok boomer
The c130s belonged to the USCG they didn’t fly in combat
That statement was about C-130s in general, not necessarily about these specific ones.
The music is unnecessary and level loud. Just keep the background music when you narrate. The volume change is bad. Love the information.
Thanks for the feedback!
Those Calfire Hercs sat on the ramp literally for years unused waiting for their safety certifications. Absolute waste of taxpayer money and loss of potential firefighting assets.
I’d love to know more about that. I’m not from California, so I don’t know anything about it.
Well considering that Cal Fire did not purchase them is a saving to tax payers, they had to strengthen the wing box and other components, install radios and other Cal Fire required safety equipment and then get them FAA certified. Tanker 117 is in service.
"CAL" anything is a joke. 😅
They have one of the best firefighting programs in the world.
David, with all due respect sir, in reference to this video, you are re+arded
ya gotta admit, CDF really does try
It’s arguably the best in the world, definitely in the US.