Friday Fun: 10 Tanker Turns Twenty

Direct link to May 2024 video from 12News on YouTube

My memories of 10 Tanker Air Carrier go back to the early days of my blog in 2009 when I was learning about different types of airtankers and what was involved in flying wildfires. I spent many hours over e-mail and on the phone with my friend Tom Janney, a former air tanker pilot in those days. I have distinct memories of watching many videos of a 10 Tanker working wildfires. 10 Tankers do a lot of good work dropping high volumes of retardant on wildfires. Tom Janney has since passed, and I am forever grateful for all that I learned from him as well as other tanker pilots who helped me out in those days. When I first saw this video from 10 Tanker on Facebook I thought immediately of Tom Janney, thank-you Tom. I share the link to this video in your memory. Unfortunately I am not able to embed the video here, the video is a little over two minutes long, please take a couple of minutes to watch this video.

2025 Wildfire Season: Coulson Helos and 10 Tanker DC-10 Tanker in action

I do my best to follow Airtanker companies that contract with the US Forest Service or individual States on Facebook. Today I highlight 10 Tanker Air Carrier, 10 Tanker has a fleet of DC-10s, and Coulson Aviation. Coulson's fleet includes 

• CH-Helitankers,
• Blackhawk UH-60 
• Helitankers, 
• 737 Fireliner, 
• C-130 Hercules
• Sikorsky S-61 Helicopters

More information on Coulson's fleet may be found here, with some videos.

2025 Wildfire Season: Large Airtankers Worked Recent Wildfires in North and South Carolina

Airtankers and helicopters on federal contracts are a national resource. While most of these firefighting aircraft and lead aircraft work in the western United States, any State Forest Service can request the help of these firefighting aircraft. I try to pay attention to when any airtankers are working wildfires on the east coast. I wrote about Super Scoopers from Bridger Aerospace helping out in North Carolina on March 31  Today I am focusing on large airtankers that helped fight these wildfires. I am grateful to see that both Neptune Aviation Services and !0 Tanker Air Carrier recently worked wildfires that burned in North and South Carolina. While I have read that there were numerous helicopters with buckets working these fires and helicopters can do a lot of good in helping the wildland firefighters on the ground, it is always helpful to have the help of larger airtankers such as those from 10 Tanker Air Carrier and Neptune Aviation. I am glad that both companies had large airtankers available to help out both states. Neptune Aviation’s Bae-146 can drop up to 3,000 gallons of retardant and 10 Tankers DC-10’s can drop up to 9,400 gallons of retardant.

Note: I embedded two images from Facebook below this paragraph, one from the North Carolina Forest Service showing a BAe0-146 airtanker from Neptune Aviation's working a wildfire and the other from 10 Tanker. If you can not see these images, either because you are using a cellphone or for other reasons,  Neptune Aviation’s post may be found here, and 10 Tanker’s post may be found on this page. 

More on DC-10 Air Tankers

Very cool view of @Ten_Tanker working the Georgetown Summit Fire fire earlier this week in Idaho.

Thanks to the subscriber who shared this footage of this drop. 🙏#wildfire #idfire #idwx pic.twitter.com/haao28r7ex

— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) October 20, 2024

The video is of one of 10 Tanker's DC-10 air tankers dropping on the Georgetown Summit Fire in Idaho on or about October 14, 2024

Pink sky at night, [pilot’s] delight… 🌅✈️

📸: @citabria_jon #10_tanker #ReadyToServe #inthistogether #calfire #pocatello #VLAT #aviationlovers #avgeek #dc10tanker #aviationdaily #wildfireready #sunset #sunsetphotography #wildfireseason #planelovers #aviationphotography pic.twitter.com/sVImwagZGp

— 10_Tanker Air Carrier (@Ten_Tanker) November 12, 2024

Continuing with DC-10 Tankers from 10 Tanker Air Carrier, see my December 5th post where I embedded a short video highlighting what happens inside a DC-10 tanker when they are dropping on a wildfire. I follow 10 Tanker Air Carrier on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter and Facebook where they have great photographs and videos along with other information. They also have an instagram account. You need an account on the X platform to access their content but Facebook should be available without an account. Their website is great with a photo gallery and their home page is chock full of information including current fire statistics and a link to a DC-10 Fact Sheet. As I write this, the latest statistics for 10 Tanker's DC-10 tankers in 2024 are

• On September 13th delivered 7 million gallons of retardant
• 767 missions
• missions to California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico

2024 Wildfire Season : Inside a DC-10 Air Tanker

Here is a short video report from June 2024 about a DC 10 tanker from 10 Tanker Air Carrier, one of four DC-10 air tankers.. Enjoy.

Direct link to video from 12 News on YouTube

2024 Wildfire Season: Airtanker Contractors Continued Training for Upcoming Wildfire Season

 I shared last Friday that Neptune Aviation's pilots were engaged in training before going on contract for the upcoming wildfire season. Unfortunately, I know no specific timetables and the like of when tanker and helicopter contractors are doing their training, spring maintenance and the like in what air tanker and  preparation for the wildfire season. However, thanks to following social media, in this case Facebook, I have an idea of what some of the contractors are doing. I do appreciate when companies are able to share on Facebook, but understand that the important thing is taking care of their aircraft and their pilots and posting to social media or elsewhere is not always possible. Nor do I have access to a listing of when airtankers are going on contract with the US Forest Service, when I do have this information, I will make a post to this blog.

Today I share two Facebook posts about air tanker contractors that were engaged in training for the upcoming wildfire season a week or two ago.

I am not able to embed a video clip from 10 Tanker highlighting training they were doing to prepare for the wildfire season, but I invite you to go to 10 Tanker's post on Facebook to look for yourself.share first this short video clip from 10 Tanker Air Carrier.

Finally, I share this post from AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting with photos about training for the upcoming wildfire season. AeroFlite has arrangements to use a property near their base in Chico for training runs simulating a wildfire.

Friday Fun: DC-10 Tanker 911 visits LAX

 For Friday Fun, I am embedding a video from LA Flights, according to their YouTube channel they have been engaged in plane spotting at Los Angeles International Airport for at least 15 years. Recently they spotted Tanker 911, a DC-10 tanker from 10 Tanker. I was not aware of the age of this DC-10, she is 48 years old. I enjoyed this video and their commentary as they spotted Tanker 911, they seemed to be excited at seeing her. The video is a little over seven minutes long.

Direct link to video from LA Flights on YouTube

Airtankers from 2010

 I have been thinking recently of the Airtankers that were still flying when I started this blog in 2009, in particular the P2V from Neptune Aviation and the Lockheed P-3 Orion from Aero Union. Both are no longer flying. The last P2V was retired a couple of years ago and Lockheed shut down operations about 11 years ago. I wanted to share a video featuring these tankers and remembered a video by Alan Simmons.

In this eight minute video by Alan Simmons shot around 2009 and 2010 you will see the Grumman S2-T flown by CAL Fire (still in service), P2V Neptune, Lockheed P-3 Orion, Canadair CL-215 and 415 (I belive the 415 is still in service, not sure about the 215), and a DC-10 tanker (the DC-10 tanker in this video is no longer flying but 10 Tanker Carrier has a fleet DC-10 tankers flying fires). Alan ends with a section of what were historic tankers at the time he shot this video. Some of you may remember this video as I have shared it here before on a couple of occasions. It is worth seeing again.

Direct link to video by Alan Simmons on YouTube

Memories of air tankers in 2009 (part 1 of 2)

 It was approximately 14 years ago, August of 2008, when I first became interested in learning more about wildland firefighting. The focus of those early entries were on what I was learning. In early 2009 I began to learn about airtanker operations thanks to the help of a few friends, current and former airtanker pilots. I took you along as I learned about the airtanker business and learned about the contractors that then had contracts with the U.S. Forest Service. I cut my teeth in 2009 into 2010 by watching live stream and other videos of Aero Union's P-3's, 10 Tanker Corp's DC-10, and Evergreen's 747 tanker flying fires. most of the videos that I am embedding below were previously shared on my blog.

In 2009, Tanker 910, operated by 10 Tanker Corp was under contract with CAL Fire, see my May 16, 2009 article for more information. Tanker 910 was capable of carrying up to 12,000 gallons of retardant though I suspect that most of the time she carried less retardant. I enjoyed watching her lay down a line of retardant. 

Direct link to 2008 video uploaded by palealien on YouTube

10 Tanker Corp is still around in 2022 and continues to fly DC 10 air tankers, download their fact sheet for more information. 10 Tanker has four DC 10 tankers -- T 910, 911, 912, and 914 -- in their fleet. Her current retardant capacity is 9,400 gallons. I believe that 10 tanker corp has contracts with the US Forest Service as well as State agencies.

I will never forget watching Evergreen's 747 tanker link up and drop a long line of retardant on the 2009 Station Fire in southern California. You will have to take my word for this as the video is no longer available. I recall watching a live stream of this drop on one of the Southern California TV News outlets, awesome. While that video that so impressed me is no longer available, check out this 2009 video 

Direct link to video from elvladyman on YouTube

According Bill Gabbert's May 2, 2014 Fire Aviation post Evergreen's 747 was not under contract in 2014. Sometime later, I don't recall exactly when and I have no link at the moment, I believe that this 747 was no longer operated by Evergreen.  A newer 747 tanker, T-944,  operated by 747 supertanker  began operations sometime in 2017 and had some contracts but ceased operations in April 2021, see Bill Gabbert's April 23, 2021 article. On September 3, 2021 Bill Gabbert reported that a 747 tanker, owned by Logistic Air, is expected to return to service for wildland firefighting by late 2022, see Bill's May 4, 2022 for updated information.

Finally, I enjoyed watching AeroUnion's P-3 tanker (3,000 gallon retardant capacity) fly fires. Sadly, the U.S. Forest Service terminated its contract with Aero Union for their P-3's in August 2011 and shut down operations a few months later after selling off their assets including some of their P-3s (see my January 18, 2012 article)

Enjoy this tribute to the P-3 tanker from Scorched Sky Productions.

Direct link to video on YouTube from Scorched Sky Productions

Another air tanker company, Neptune Aviation had contracts with the US Forest Service in 2009 and is still in business  flying airtankers. I will write about Neptune Aviation on August 22. Stay Tuned

Reflections on 10 Tanker Air Carrier's DC-10 tankers

Direct link to video on Youtube

Direct link to video on Youtube

If you are like me and you follow wildfires, for example those in the western United States of in Australia, than you have probably seen videos, similar to those I have embedded here,  of a DC-10 tanker working a wildfire. Carrying up to 9,400 gallons of retardant, they can do a lot of good to help wildland firefighters on the ground. Whether a DC-10 tanker makes one drop or multiple drops, they can do a lot of good. I have never seen a DC-10 tanker drop in person, so to speak, but I have seen them on live stream, it is truly awesome to when the drop either a full or partial load.

10 Tanker Air Carrier has a fleet of four DC-10-30 tankers. I am sure that some of you already know that these DC-10's used to be commercial airliners before they were acquired by 10 Tanker Air Carrier and converted for use as tankers (I got the specs and other information on the DC-10 tankers from 10 Tanker Air Carrier's DC-10 Fact Sheet where you may go for more information). 

The four DC-10 tankers are:

• Tanker-910 N612X
• Tanker-911 N17085
• Tanker-912 N522AX
• Tanker-914 N603AX

A crew of three flies the DC-10: pilot in command, second in command, and a flight engineer. A maintenance crew of seven follows the DC-10 with trailers to their assignments. 

Mission Specs:

• cruise speed of 300 to 350 knots to the fire.
• drop speed is 140 knots.
• going back to tanker base to load and return, 380 knots.

Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation provided an update on the 2020 US Forest Service Large Tanker Contracts on May 2nd. According to Bill's post 10 Tanker Air Carrier will have two DC-10s on this contract. These contracts may change during the fire season, and I expect that Bill will provide updates on Fire Aviation. 

Reflections on learning about aerial firefighting almost 10 years ago

After  i wrote about P-2 Neptune tankers the other day, I spent some time reflecting on first learning about the business of aerial firefighting nine and ten years ago. I am eternally grateful to some now good friends who helped me learn about the business. I spent a lot of time watching live stream coverage of some of the larger wildfires that were burning in southern California in mid to late 2009. A couple of times, I was watching the live stream as I was exchanging e-mails with one of my former tanker pilot friends. He would share a little about what was going on. I enjoyed seeing the tankers and helos in action, working to help the wildland firefighters on the ground. As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words. The video that I am sharing below is from Alan Simmons of Firestorm HD Production. He uploaded the video to Youtube in April 2010. I believe that at least some of the fire footage is from 2009, perhaps there is footage of some of the wildfires that I was following in 2009. Alan’s footage is a highlight video from a longer DVD that he put out, go here for more information on the video that is available for purchase only. 

I love watching videos like Alan’s of tankers working a wildfire. Elegance in action. What they do is very dangerous. Please remember that if it is very windy or the smoke is very bad tankers and helicopters may not be flying the fire because it is not safe to do so.

The video from Alan Simmons that I have embedded below has about eight minutes of highlights from his 80 minute video. In the first half, you will see footage of the S-2T, P-2 Neptunes, P-3 Orion, Canadair 215/415, and the DC-10. The final three or four minutes includes footage from 1999 of now historic tankers including some footage of T-123 which crashed in 2002.

Direct link to video from Alan Simmons on Youtube

aerial firefighting: MAFFs, SEATs, and Helicopters

I had shared three videos here in October 2018 of MAFFs, SEATs, and Helicopters working wildfires. Unfortunately, all three videos are no longer available.

DC-10 and USFS C-130 arriving at Santa Maria Tanker Base

Thanks to Mike Archer at WNOTD for steering me to a nice story from KSBY with a video about the arrival of T-116, a USFS C-130 at Santa Maria Tanker Base. The C-130s were based out of Sacramento, but with the closure of that tanker base, the USFS C-130 will be based out of Santa Maria. She arrived last Saturday, joining one the 10 Tanker Carriers DC-10s which has been based out of Santa Maria for the last couple of years. Because of the wet winter, the fire season in California is expected to start later and last longer. T-116 and the DC-10 tanker (T-911?) will provide important aerial support to wildland firefighters on the ground fighting wildfires this season. Go here for the story and accompanying video. I am sorry that I could not get the embed code to work, which may be for the best as I am never sure how long videos from local media will be live.

Bushfire season in Australia - New South Wales

As we head into the holidays at the end of 2017 and then the New Year (just two weeks away), I find myself thinking that it is summer in Australia and that means bush fire season. Perhaps because I have a couple of contacts in New South Wales in Australia, I was wondering what is going in New South Wales. The bush fire agency in New South Wales, NSW Rural Fire Service has a nice webpage chock full of good links with a map of bush fire activity at the top of their entry page. The NSW Rural Fire Service has a nice Facebook page where they post videos, photos, and of course, information about bush fires. For those of you who prefer Twitter, the NSW Rural Fire Service Twitter page may be found here.

I knew from following Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation that one of 10 Tanker Carrier's DC-10's (T-910 aka Southern Belle) and a Coulson C-130 (T-132, aka Thor) are under contract to New South Wales for their summer bush fire season. As I understand it, air tankers in Australia are considered a national resource and shared across Australian States as needed during bush fire season. Which probably explains why Coulson's T-132 was in Avalon, Victoria (Australia) when Coulson's T-131 (known as bomber 390) arrived in Avalon last week to start a contract in Victoria.

Fire Aviation posts on New South Wales (good videos and photos)

Coulson's T-132 arrives in New South Wales

10 Tanker Carrier's T-910 arrives in New South Wales

Coulson's C-130 on Facebook

10 Tanker Carrier on Facebook

Here are two Youtube videos of bush fire activity in New South Wales, both taken in late 2016.

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Behind the scenes at 10 Tanker Air

Listen to Kevin Hopf, Chief Pilot at 10 Tanker Air talk to WeatherNation TV about what goes on behind the scenes during tanker operations at wildfires. He also discusses their DC-10 tankers.

Direct link to video from WeatherNation on Facebook

Adious (original) T-910, gone but not forgotten (2 of 2)

I first learned about you from a friend in May 2009 when I first started writing about aerial wildland firefighting, and I first wrote about you on May 16, 2009. Modified by 10 Tanker Air Carrier for firefighting, you carry 11,600 gallons of retardant — four times more retardant than most other tankers flying today. You can put down a line of retardant one mile long (see the 10Tanker's “the plane” page for more information about DC-10 tankers. By the time I first learned about you, you had been flying fires since 2006. 

I wanted to be able to share about the number of fires that your flew, so I wrote 10 Tanker the other day, asking for some of your statistics, and Rck Hatton, President and CEO of 10 Tanker Air Carrier responded providing some statistics for T-910 and their plans for the future:

In nine fire seasons this aircraft was flown 761 missions on 156 fires. This required 805 flight hours, and dispensed 8,827,600 U.S. Gals. of suppressant. This would have taken more than four times this amount of flying by any other aircraft type available.

While the aircraft is being retired, it is being replaced with a newer DC-10 which will carry the “910” number. We at 10 Tanker Air Carrier are very proud of the fire-fighting capability that this aircraft and her sister ships 911 and 912 have provided the nation thus far. We are looking forward to contracting and building a fleet of up to eight DC-10s to continue affording the U.S. and other countries this innovative product in more locations (Rick Hatton).

Wow, your numbers show how much of a difference you made, 761 missions on 156 fires. Over 8,800,000 gallons of retardant, that is a lot of retardant. 

I remember the first videos that I saw in 2009 of you dropping on a fire and being impressed by the long line of retardant that you lay down and thinking that you can do a lot of good on a fire. Over the years, I have seen you and your sisters numerous times either on videos and perhaps once or twice on a live stream feed of aircraft working fires. I never tired of seeing you or your sisters dropping on a fire and the friends who have watched you from the ground while you were over a fire tell me how special it was to see you. My respect and love for you has only grown over the subsequent years.

In the summer of 2011 the US Forest Service terminated its contract with Aero Union resulting in the loss of their P-3 Orions from the airtanker fleet, (here for more information), I wondered what would happen. It was August and there were a lot of weeks left in the fire season. Then I remembered that you were there fighting fires, and I felt better. You and your sister (T-911) made a big difference as did our friends from Canada and the MAFFs. After that I became more aware of your presence over wildfires and everywhere you went, you were loved. You made a difference, a big difference. In the months and years since then, you and your sisters continued to make a difference, and you are loved.

But you are special, you were the first. And I will always love you for that. You lived to be retired. I know that there will be another DC-10 T-910, but she won’t be you. You can not be replaced. I will miss you. My you fly in favorable tail winds . . .

T-910 dropping on Goff Fire (2012)

direct link to video

T-910 dropping on Zaca Fire (2007)

direct link to video

T-910 over the Humboldt Fire (2008?)

direct link to video

Adios (original) T-910 (1 of 2)

I was in San Diego California four weeks ago when I first learned that 10 Tanker retired T-910 after reading Bill Gabbert's article of November 14. She got a great send off and tribute when she took off for the last time from Castle Airport, her base since 2013.

I thought that you might enjoy reading some of the comments from 10 Tanker Air Carrier's Facebook Page after she took her final flight, go here for a nice photo of her last take off along with some comments and photos and a video shared by many who love her. Please take the time to scroll through the comments, check out the photos and the video and shed a tear or two for a maginficant airplane.

I'll be posting an article on December 13 where I will share some reflections of my own on T-910. But in the mean time, I want to share a video with you.

direct link to video from AOPA Live on DC-10 Tankers

DC-10 Tankers in OR and CA

direct link to video and report from KTVL

I have been thinking about the wildland fire crews working the fires in Oregon recently, and was looking around for wildfire news from Oregon when I came upon this recent video report on the DC-10 tankers at Rouge Valley Tanker Base in Oregon. So, I am sharing it with you. The DC-10 tankers with their ability to lay down a long line of retardant are an important weapon in the aerial wildland fire fighting arsenal working to support the crews on the ground.

Speaking of the DC-10, Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation has a nice article an article that he posted today on DC-10 tankers that you might want to look at.

When I hear from my friend Steve Konrad I'll post something here. It is the middle of fire season, so I may not hear from him for a few weeks. Recall that I've shared some of his videos here, for example this video from Sept. 2013 and another video from Sept. 2012 showing a back burn at night.

DC-10 Tankers -- Two on contract and a third coming later in 2014

direct link to video

direct link to video

direct link to video

In case you are wondering about the status of  10 Tanker Air Carrier's third DC-10 that the will have on contract later this year, 10 Tanker Air Carrier has an update on their homepage (as of June 18, 2014) where they report that their third DC-10 is currently under construction and is 75% complete. 10 Tanker has an information page on the DC-10 tanker (capable of carrying up to 11,600 gallons of retardant.

According to 10 Tanker's Facebook Page the Shirley Fire is but one of the many 2014 wildfires that one or both of the two DC-10 Tankers on contract (T-910 and T-911) have worked this year. The DC-10 Tankers with their range and their ability to carry up to 11,600 gallons of retardant are an important part of the airtanker fleet. I look forward to having a third DC-10 on contract later this year.

10-Tanker Carrier is not moving to Wyoming

A couple of months ago, I wrote that 10-Tanker Carrier was planning a move to Wyoming. Just yesterday, Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation reported that 10-Tanker Carrier is canceling their move to Wyoming, you will want to read Bill's article for more information.