Bushfire Water Bomber Helitaks in Action

Just a few shots I've got of Helitaks in action around Perth so far this fire season....one has to work with the light one has, and, if the wind is coming your way, serious smoke.

I'm still trying to get a hang of it, but as I don't actively chase bushfires it'll take some time...

Hope you like. C&C most welcome.

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Good work!

Great work , weve got teh Erikson Skycrane, " Malcolm" here in town.

Was called out today to help squash a bushfire just out of town...I was stuck in the office ...

Im dying to shoot some of Malcolm in action,,...but I also realise that Life & property are in peril if its in action...

Keep posting Andrew....

Thank you very much, both...

..we have an Aircrane here for the fire season, was here last year and only ever saw it from a distance. Have not seen it at all this season yet, but I know it's here.

I'd kill to get a half reasonable shot of it flying, I really would, that's totally on my bucket list. So far I've not managed. One day I hope to see it and be in a position to shoot it, that said, obviously I hope it's not required (needs not saying, but said it anyway).

Thanks again for taking the time out to comment to you both. Appreciated.

Great shots!

We have the "Elvis" Skycrane in Victoria this fire season. Great machines.

Ah, now isn't he the chap you guys loaned us last year, sure it is. WA decided to call him Marty though, lol, but,mot me, and the media here it has to be said, it was Elvis and the rest was childish politics.

Very impressive machines, and the pilots, well, max respect, I don't feel they get enough credit, the lot of then, rotary and fixed wing, regardless of make/model.

Always in awe when I see them.

Andrew Tingle wrote in post #15455650
Very impressive machines, and the pilots, well, max respect, I don't feel they get enough credit, the lot of then, rotary and fixed wing, regardless of make/model.

Agree 100%

There's some deployment info here.... http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Elvis_(helicopt​er)

Good ones. #3 is the kind of shot that makes the cover of a book.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15456022
Good ones. #3 is the kind of shot that makes the cover of a book.

Yep, I agree. No.3 is an awesome shot!

QuibPhotography wrote in post #15456082
Yep, I agree. No.3 is an awesome shot!

Came here to say that.

Heres an image I shot the other day,...we went out to the airport & got a guidied tour of Malcolm by the crew, theres currently 6 in Australia, 1 in Sydney, 2 Melbourne , 1 Adelaide, 1 Perth. & the other one from Sydney is here in Wagga .
Crew were telling me they fly em out here partlly dismantled with spares 2 at a time in an Antonov, he was telling me that Erikson have 17 of them.

Errikson Skycrane, Malcolm,...is still sitting waiting,...
While I really want to capture it in the air,....given it will only be in action if the Bushfires get going,...Im happy to see it sit on standby

Malcolm got used in anger yesterday just out of tiown , he was refilling form the River, a Shot I definately wanted but by the time I heard about it I was in town & the police closed the road to traffic...

Nice pictures Andrew, nice to see Erikson over there working!

Nice photo's. Hope the fire situation isn't too bad in Australia. I live near the Canadian Boreal Forest, which are incredibly vast and during the summer, unfortunately we get forest fires. Lightning strikes, careless campers, etc...can cause these fires.

We use Canadair CL -215 Water Bombers. Fortunately in my province we have plenty of lakes...over 100,000...so filling up is not a problem. They are very effective and have a large capacity for water or fire retardant material.

When we or our neighbouring provinces or US states have forest fires...fortunately other provinces and states help out if needed with personnel and equipment. It's reciprocal.