Modified 747 Can Carry A LOT Of Fire Retardant

Evergreen International Aviation tells ANN the company's modified Boeing 747-200 'Supertanker' is now available to assist world firefighting agencies during the 2009 season and beyond.

The massive air tanker won certification for operation this season after receiving its interim approval letter from the Interagency Air Tanker Board. The aircraft also received its Supplemental Type Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in November 2008.

The multi-role B747 Supertanker is the largest tanker aircraft available today. With a payload of more than 20,000 gallons and a response time of 600 mph, it has more than eight times the drop capability and twice the speed of any other federal air tanker currently fighting fires. The Supertanker has an 8:1 drop ratio compared to that of all other current firefighting aircraft.

The company says the Supertanker's patented pressurized system has the capability to disperse product at high pressure for an overwhelming response, or disperse at the speed of falling rain in a single or several segmented drops.

Evergreen also notes the pressurized system allows for drops at higher altitudes, creating a significant safety buffer. That addresses a significant concern voiced by Supertanker critics, who have expressed misgivings about such a large aircraft operating at normal (read, very low) firebomber altitudes and airspeeds.

The system also allows the Supertanker to fight fires during the day and at night, when firefighting aircraft are most vulnerable.

FMI: www.evergreenaviation.com