AZ - The Russians aren't coming - to put out the fires

[budthespud]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0705montini05.html

[Bones42]

from the link....

"But also it's not designed to hold fire retardant, just water. And its tanking system doesn't have the capacity to release incrementally. That kind of load can do a lot of damage."

Eardley also said that relatively few airports can accommodate the big jet, and that it requires more support personnel than other planes.

-------------------------

Are these true statements?



Also, how many are in use in Canada?

[budthespud]

Thanks for asking, Bones;

Nothing the US Forest Service says about
the Il-76 is fully true. Half-truths
are far more dangerous to deal with than
lies.

With a half-truth, you need to admit
first that it contains a bit of truth.
You lose your audience between the time
you explain the part that's true and
move on to explain what is not true.

The IL-76 cannot use ALL the tanker
bases, but Congressional research says
it can use 80%+ of them - more than
sufficient for coverage.

It is flat out FALSE to assert that the
IL-76 will not accept retardants and
foam. The tanking system is made of
Space Program-quality hi-tech materiel.


Here's my favorite part of a quote from this piece:

...it seems odd that we (Americans) trust the Russians to shuttle back and forth to the space station but we don't trust them to carry a load of water."

Don't you think this brings shame on the USA?

Do you really think Russia would embarrass itself by sending the USA
junk or a firefighting airplane that just didn't work?

And doesn't it make you just a little
tiny bit suspicious that the US Forest
Service fights even a demo?

Canada doesn't use the IL-76 - except to
take soldiers around the world to
military theatres or on humanitarian
relief missions and peacekeeping. The
military has no qualms about using
Russian airplanes.

Since wildfire fighting is provincial in
Canada, the decision NOT to use the
IL-76 waterbomber was fully in
provincial hands. Politicians chose to
wait until the US Forest Service said it
was OK. The fed did not want to get
embroiled in a controversy so they went
the same way: wait for the US Forest
Service to move on the airplane.

I am ashamed of Canada.

The airplane could have used Kelowna's
airfield and could have saved Kelowna's
lost homes. BC Forest Service won't
admit it.

[budthespud]

requires more support personnel than other planes.

false - the Russians will provide the
full service ACMI for $10K/hr+ fuel.
Crew includes handling personnel.

The numbers ($/pound liquids delivered)
are all in on a comparative basis.
Nothing beats the IL-76 on price.

[Bones42]

And its tanking system doesn't have the capacity to release incrementally. That kind of load can do a lot of damage." You left out this one.

[budthespud]

J. Edgar Hoover's and Sen Joe McCarthy's
full coffins would do a lot of damage too
if dropped on Jerry T Williams' head.

Those we would do incrementally with a
cherry-picker.

I think you can get a cherry-picker for
about $80/hr.

[Bones42]

Thanks for something totally useless. Now, how about answering the question?

[budthespud]

Interesting that in Co. yesterday, there
was one aircraft deployed for every 5
homes in need of protection.

What protection would covering an area 12
football fields' provide?

What do firefighters call that?

Line is it?

Would the IL-76 waterbomber then be
called a linebuilder?

We have it on information and belief from
Americans hit by fire recently that the US
Forest Service truly feels it is
protecting US citizens from communism
by refusing to tell the truth about the
Il-76 waterbomber and keeping it out.

They are feeling 'patriotic'.

Not a word of a lie.

What is it they say about patriotism?

Often, it is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Kauffman calls them smart Alecs and
wise guys.

We'll see how smart they are before
a Congressional investigatory panel,
if one is ever called on this issue.