Type 1 Helicopters

Regular followers of my blog probably know that I love aviation, but sadly circumstances prevent me from becoming a licensed pilot. I am fortunate to have pilot friends who take me on scenic rides when their schedules permit and the weather cooperates. I keep a journal of my scenic rides. On November 10, 2014 one of my pilot friends took me a scenic ride to the Pilot's Shop at the Lancaster PA Airport, KLNS. I wanted to pick up some aviation charts and gifts and was happy that my pilot friend accommodated me. We had a nice 45 minute flight to Lancaster. It did not take long to pick up my charts and the gift. We had a cup of coffee at one of the flight services and he flew back to our home airport. My pilot friend had flight following. On the way back the controller came on the radio to warn the pilot about a CH-47 that would cross our flight path, but at a different altitude. I don't recall how far out the CH-47 was, I'd say somewhere between 5 and 10 miles. Anyway, it took a minute or so for my brain to kick into gear to realized that what I was seeing was a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. Even from a few miles out, I was impressed at her size. As I recall, she seemed to be in military olive drab. The pilot acknowledged that he had the CH-47 in site, and we both safely flew on. I thought about taking a picture, but by the time I got the camera out she was on her way and too small for a shot. Yeah, I know, I know, this may sound like a tall tale. It is not, but I'll leave you to your thoughts. Perhaps one day, I'll get to see a CH-47 up close and be able to take a photograph.

I tell this story because Columbia Helicopters has CH-47 Chinooks that they fly in firefighting configuration. The CH-47 is included in the group of firefighting helicopters known as type 1 helicopters, at least I am fairly confident that the CH-47 is still flown in firefighting configuration as a type 1 helicopter.



As I write this, according to Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation, there are 28 type 1 helicopters (700 to 2,500 gallon capacity) on exclusive use contract with the US Forest Service with up to 30 more being available on Call When Needed Contracts in 2017.

One of the reasons for this post on type 1 helicopters is to share with you two videos, you will have to go the supplied links to watch the videos (they are short) of what I believe are Sikorsky S61 helicopters (type 1). I was on the inciweb page for the High Cascades Complex of Wildfires (Spruce Lake, Broken Lookout, and Sherwood) which have burned a combined total of 13,655 acres (60% containment) in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in the Medford OR area in southern Oregon. I found both of these videos on the High Cascades Complex Photo page on Inciweb.

In video number 1 you will learn about type 1 helicopters while watching one of the type 1 helos filling her belly tank from her snorkel tube. In video number 2 you will see a couple of Helos filling their tanks from a portable tank aka heliwell. You might want to watch the videos in full screen.