Blue Angels and Thunderbirds Flyover of NY/NJ/PA: videos

As many of you already know, On Tuesday April 28th, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds did a joint flyover of New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester County New York, portions of Connecticut, portions of central and southern New Jersey, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and Wilmington Delaware. See my April 27th article for more information.

The flyover was to honor the frontline medical and other essential workers.

I am going to share some of my favorite video highlights of the flyover with regrets that I can not show videos from all the flyovers of all the areas.

I start with the only video that is a news report, this one from NBC 4 in New York City from April 28th. I share this video because you will some footage of flyovers of hospitals in New York City and Newark New Jersey.


Direct link to NBC 4 New York report on Youtube

Here are two videos of footage over New York City. The first video is shot from an area in Jersey City (across the Hudson River from New York City) shot from a neighborhood known as Jersey City Heights. This is great footage with sound of the flyover over the Hudson River. The footage is embedded from the HMag Twitter Account.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels & Air Force Thunderbirds Flyover (from a safe, socially distanced rooftoop in Jersey City Heights)@USNavy @usairforce @JerseyCity @NJGov @nycgov @BlueAngels @AFThunderbirds @CityofHoboken @TAPintoLocal pic.twitter.com/DZnC6JBZPe

— hMAG (@hMAG) April 28, 2020

The second video of footage of the flyover over New York City is from ABC News.


Direct link to ABC News video on Youtube

Some footage of the flyover over northern New Jersey from New Jersey Advance Media


Direct link to New Jersey Advance Media video on Youtube

I really enjoyed this footage from Penn Live, you hear great fighter jet sounds and there is great footage shot from the ground of the flyover over Philadelphia. From the point of view of an aviation lover, this is my favorite.


Direct link to PennLive video on Youtube.

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds: April 28th flyover of NYC/NJ/PA/DE to honor healthcare workers

Last week I heard rumors about a flyover of Philadelphia and environs by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds to honor our frontline healthcare workers, these rumors are now confirmed. Our flyover in NewYork City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Delaware (along with Westchester Count, Nassau County and portions of Connecticut) is on Tuesday, April 28th. I understand that there have been flyovers in other parts of the country and more flyovers of other cities are planned. See this press release from the Department of Defense and this report from the Washington Post. I am too far north and west to see the flyover, perhaps I can catch it on local tv news. But it does not matter to me that I won't see them. It is enough for me that they will be flying over hospitals.

About smokejumping: behind the scenes at the BLM Alaska smoke jumping base

When I wrote my April 15th post on smokejumping, I shared that I had been doing some reading. By coincidence, much of the reading to date has been about smokejumping. At the time, I had hoped that I might write some reflection pieces based on what I have been reading. For now, I have take that back as writing such a reflection piece does not feel right at the moment. Perhaps that will change in the future, and perhaps not.

Instead of a reflection piece, there have been various things that I have gotten interested in through my reading. Things that I wanted to check out to see what I could find. As I have read some on smoke jumping in Alaska and got curious. In addition, I was also curious about certain behind the scenes aspects of smokejumping such as the cubbies where the smokejumpers hang their jump suit and stash the gear, drying out and then repacking parachutes, the cache, weather forecasting, and aviation operations. And of course, the smoke jumping base itself. I got my answers to most of these questions in this video, just under 13 minutes, by Live Alaska. Live Alaska takes us on a tour of the Alaska BLM facilities.


Direct link to video on Youtube from Live Alaska

Happy Earth Day (2020): a tour through the New Jersey Pine Barrens

On this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, please join me in taking a virtual tour of the New Jersey Pinelands (aka the New Jersey Pine Barrens thanks to Pinelands Adventures and the photography of Albert Horner. Allow about 13 minutes for the video.


Direct link to video on Youtube from Pinelands Adventures

2019 NJ wildfire season: civil charges filed for Spring Hill Fire

A little over a year ago, the Spring Hill fire burned 11,638 acres in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (aka as the Pinelands), for more information on this fire see my two articles (with links) from April 1, 2019 here and here, and my April 8, 2019 articles with some aerial photos of the fire. I am especially fond of the section of the Pine Barrens near where the Spring Hill fire burned, known as Penn State Forest. I have traversed a portion on sand roads in my old all-wheel drive Subaru and when my knees were better, I walked along another sand road. If memory serves, deeper in Penn State Forest are some small pines that I call Pygmy Pines. They grow no higher than about 3 feet and for reasons that are hard to explain, I am drawn to the Pygmy Pines are special to me. I have seen Pygmy Pines elsewhere in the Pine Barrens but have never seen the Pygmy Pines in Penn State Forest. I do not know the area well enough to know what has and has not come back in the year since since the Spring Hill Fire burned. Nor do I know if the Pygmy Pine Plains in Penn State Forest burned. I do know and have seen with my own that the pines in the Pine Barren can come back after a fire, see my April 2019 article for more information.

I found out late last week, that civil charges have been filed against five individuals with actions that lead to the Spring Hill fire (see this April 16th press release from the NJ DEP for more information):

The filing of civil charges comes one year after the fire burned 11,638 acres of land in Bass River and Penn State forests. A complaint signed Friday, March 20, charges five individuals with setting a fire without written permission, and failure to extinguish the fire and notify authorities. The court filing seeks approximately $50,000 in restitution. 

“The Forest Fire Service’s pursuit of those responsible for this devastating wildfire was necessary because they recklessly put lives and property at risk,” Commissioner McCabe said. “The Spring Hill fire burned for a month, closed roads and required extensive resources to keep the public safe. Thankfully, there were no injuries or personal property damage during the fire, but thousands of acres of the public’s natural resources were needlessly destroyed. 

The press release goes on to explain that the Pinelands ecosystem is especially vulnerable to fire:

The Pinelands ecosystem, which covers a large swath of southern New Jersey – including the area of the Spring Hill wildfire -- is especially vulnerable to wildfires because its predominant tree and shrub species are particularly flammable. In addition, this region tends to dry out quickly after rainfall because of its porous and sandy soils. 

That was the case with the Spring Hill wildfire on March 30, 2019, which resulted when embers from an illegal bonfire on private property escaped and set a nearby forest ablaze. Weather conditions fueled the spread. 

Please pay attention to any regulations involving camp or bon fires. Please do fully extinguish any fires with water where it is cool to the touch before leaving the area.

From the NJ Forest Fire Service: no drones in fire zones

obtained on April 17th from a NJ Forest Fire Service April 17 Facebook post

As we are near the peak of the wildfire season here in New Jersey (see this April 16th press release from the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection) I want to urge all operators from the general public of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones not to fly your UAS or drone around a wildfire of any size. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has this to say in an April 17th Facebook Post:

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service would like to remind you, please do not fly your 

UAS or Drone near or around a wildfire, no matter how large or small.
Your actions may have devastating effects to firefighting aircraft and personnel on the fire. 

In addition, we would like to remind you that drones are not permitted to be flown from any lands managed by the New Jersey State Park Service.

The full drone policy on lands managed by the New Jersey State Park Service may be found here.  Note that exceptions are made for search and rescue, firefighting, law enforcement and other governmental first response who request permission from the State. Emergency uses of drones and UAS (e.g. firefighting) are immediately approved).

About smokejumpers: McCall Smoke jumpers

During the time that I have been sheltering in place during this pandemic, I continue to spend time on this blog. Part of this time includes catching up on some of my wildland fire related reading. I have been reading books by smokejumpers about their experiences fighting wildfires. I have learned a lot. I am still trying to figure if I can incorporate what I am learning into this blog. Perhaps some kind of reflection piece that is not necessarily a book review. I don't claim that reading will make me any kind of expert, rather through their words, I am given a peak into their world.

In the meantime, as I am not quite ready to write any kind of reflection piece based on what I have been reading, I went online to look at videos about smoke jumping. I found these two that I looked, both about McCall Smoke jumpers. I like the videos because I can see some pictures of what I have been reading about. Enjoy.

The first video is about rookie training. If you get an error on trying to play this embedded video, click the link below, it should work.


Direct link to video on Youtube by the Interagency Fire Center


The second video is a more general introduction to the McCall Smokejumpers that includes rookie training.


Direct link to video by On Final Productions

2020 NJ wildfire season: update on the Split Ditch Fire

I wrote about the Split Ditch Fire on Friday, April 10th  that had burned over 1,000 acres in the Millville Wildlife Management Area in Downe Township, Cumberland County New Jersey. The fire was reported contained on Saturday, April 11th at 1,518 acres. The fire, which started on Thursday April 9th, was caused by lightning. For more information see this Facebook Post from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and an April 12th article from NJ Advance Media.

An observation, if I may. Now I am no expert in wildfire starts in New Jersey. However there were some rain storms that passed through the State on Thursday afternoon, some accompanied by lightning. I believe that this type of thunderstorm is called a wet thunderstorm because if is raining. As opposed to the dry thunderstorms (with little or no rain) that occur out west.  I believe that lightning from these dry thunderstorms do cause a number of wildfires in western parts of the country.

What some of you may not know is that the New Jersey closed the state and county parks, forests, recreation areas, etc effective Tuesday, April 7 at 8 PM see this article from NorthJersey for more information. Knowing this, I was wondering how this wildfire got started. I figured that arson or an unattended camp fire was only a remote possibility because of the closure. I wondered about lightning but I know that lightning caused wildfires in New Jersey do not happen that often It turns out that according to the NJ Forest Fire Service the Split Ditch Fire was caused by lightning. Interesting. It is contained now and with last nights and today's rain fall, I would think that any remaining hot spots are out.

Oh, by the way, the State of New Jersey was under a Red Flag Warning on Saturday, April 11th. I have not heard of any larger wildfires that may have started on Saturday, at least none that I am aware of through my local news sources. If I hear of anything, I will report back.

2020 NJ wildfire season: Split Ditch Fire burns over 1,000 acres

I only found out today that the Split Ditch has burned over 1,000 acres in the Millville Wildlife Management Area in Downe Township in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Cumberland County is located in NJ Forest Fire Service Division C in southern New Jersey. The fire was first reported on Thursday afternoon, April 9th. Windy conditions have no doubt contributed to this wildfire. For more information on the Split Ditch Fire go to:

NJ Advance Media article (April 10th)
NJFFS Section B10 Twitter (April 9th)
Wildfire Today (April 9th) with video links

Friday Fun: P-51 Mustangs "My Little Friends"

Enjoy these videos of P-51 Mustangs.


Direct link to video on Youtube


Direct link to video on Youtube

Coulson Aviation's B-737 Fireliner Air Tanker

A few years ago Coulson Aviation began building an airtanker from a Boeing 737 commercial jet liner. The conversion of the passenger jet liner to air tanker configuration took about three years. After testing and various approvals. Coulson’s 737 air tanker, dubbed the Fireliner, T-137, was ready to fly her fire while on contract in New South Wales, Australia. For more information see the following articles from Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation: July 14, 2018, November 15, 2018, and November 22, 2018. 

Coulson now has built two 737 Fireliners, one was sold to New South Wales Australia, see this press release from Coulson Aviation for more information. The Fireliner can carry 4,000 gallons 05 15,150 liters of retardant. In addition she can carry up to 72 persons, useful for deploying firefighters.

I believe that T-137 may have been on a call-when-needed contract with the U.S. Forest Service in 2019. In 2020, T-137 will be on the first year of a a multi-year contract with the U.S. Forest Service. See this press release from Coulson Aviation and this March 26th article from Fire Aviation for more information.

I am looking forward to seen T-137 in action, albeit in news reports and perhaps videos of her in action during the upcoming fire season here in the United.States. I know that she and her pilots will make a difference.

In closing, I have a couple of videos that I want to share with you. The first video is from Coulson Aviation, and the next two are about New South Wales new B-737 Fireliner, the Marie Bashir

Direct link to video on Youtube from Coulson Aviation

Direct link to video on Youtube from Nine News Australia

Direct link to video on Youtube from 7 News Australia

Welcome to April and the 2020 spring wildfire season in New Jersey

This is the time of year that the spring wildfire season here in New Jersey kicks in. While I have no official word that we are in the spring wildfire season, I know from the years that I have been writing this blog that the spring wildfire season begins around the first week of April, give or take a few days. Last week we were a bit chilly with some days of rain.

We are in a new world with Covid-19. As I am always thinking and meditating on my friends who fight wildfires here in New Jersey on the ground and in the air, I am also wishing that all of you stay as safe as you can be during these times. While I know that you are dedicated to what you do, to keep us here in New Jersey safe from wildfires, please stay safe and well. At least as much as you can during these times. I know that you will respect whatever you are told to do on the fireline to adhere to any infectious disease protocols.

Today is a high fire danger day here in northern New Jersey. No special weather statements have been issued yet for increased wildfire danger in New Jersey nor have any red flag warnings been issued. I will post about it here if and when such watches and warnings are issued.

Fire Danger in New Jersey: April 6, 2020 (info in link below changes daily)
Obtained on April 6. 2020 from https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/fire/firedanger-restrictions.htm

Reflections on Neptune Aviation's BAe-146 Air Tanker

Direct link to video on Youtube

I wrote a reflection piece the other day (April 1st) on the Lockheed P2-V air tanker, where I wrote that Neptune Aviation was the last contractor in the United States to have the P2-V on national contract. It seems appropriate to transition from Neptune Aviation's older fleet of P2-V's to their new fleet of BAe-146 air tankers. Neptune Aviation first flew a BAe-136, T-40, on a wildfire in Texas in November of 2011 and T-40 first went on a national contract here in the United States in 2012, see my January 2012 article, note Minden no longer has a BAe-146 program, (see Bill Gabbert's Bill Gabbert's December 2018 Fire Aviation article article on Fire Aviation).

Over the past eight years, I have seen a few videos and read of the fine work that Neptune's BAe-146 tankers have done flying wildfires. Neptune now was nine BAe-146 tankers. four of whom will be on an exclusive use contract in 2020. Neptune had four BAe-146 tankers on exclusive use contracts and four on a call when needed contract (see December 11, 2019 and March 26th articles on Fire Aviation for more information on the 2019 and 2020 tanker contracts). Neptune's BAe-146 tankers carry 3,000 gallons of retardant. Neptune has a nice photo gallery from the 2018 fire season that may be found here.

Here is a video from the AOPA where you may learn a little more about Neptune's VAe-146 tankers.


Direct link to AOPA video on Youtube

Reflections on the Lockheed P2-V Air Tanker

In regards to large air tankers, especially early on, I cut my teeth watching the Lockheed P-3 Orion and the Lockheed P2-V fly fires, for specifications see this April 2009 article. I have benefitted from have the chance to correspond with a couple of former pilots of the P2-V. Through watching videos of the P2-V tankers in action along with my correspondence with a couple of her former pilots, I gained a little familiarity with these air tankers. Through my correspondence with P2-V and other tanker pilots, I grew to appreciate how complicated it is to fly air tankers.

Neptune Aviation was the last contractor to have P2-Vs on national contract here in the United States. The last of their P2-Vs were retired from aerial firefighting in 2017, many are in museums, see Neptune Aviation Yesterday for more information. Neptune Aviation has a nice photo gallery, called P2V retirement, that you may enjoying viewing.

To the P2-V air tankers and your pilots, your sacrifices and service in fighting wildfires from the air in aid of the wildland firefighters on the ground will not be forgotten.


Direct link to video from Scorched Sky Productions on Youtube