Well, the MB boys kicked off our season today with 9 drops out of 258, and a few more from 252 and 253. I thought two years ago was an early start on April 16, but we're almost two weeks ahead this year..

Stay safe, all!

Good news, although I am amazed you can find unfrozen water this early. No danger of any fires in BC and if there was one the avalanche would put it out.

One thing is for sure, the engine and airframe anti ice systems are getting a good work out in Spring training

BPF, it was ~ 17 degrees here today - and that's plus, and celcius, so what ice there was is melting rapidly. I didn't go out, as I was writing an exam when the call came in, but it sounds as if I'm on deck for tomorrow!

North Shore wrote:BPF, it was ~ 17 degrees here today - and that's plus, and celcius, so what ice there was is melting rapidly. I didn't go out, as I was writing an exam when the call came in, but it sounds as if I'm on deck for tomorrow!

Ah yes, the yearly open book exams, what a treat they are! Good luck North Shore, fly safe!

BL

We had our first two fires in South Korea yesterday also. Only 3 loads but it's a start.

Ontario had bombers flying out of Dryden most of the day as well.

Driving - take a few pics and post them, please! It'd be interesting to see the terrain/vegetation there... Who's with you there? I'd heard a certain Rhodesian-via-Carolina-and-Yellowknife?

Have fun, and fly safely..

Hi N S yes the Rhodesian Rogue Elephant is here along with the Commadore of Richmond B C and yours truly. I 'll post some photos later but first I have figure out this new to me iPad.

North Shore wrote:Well, the MB boys kicked off our season today with 9 drops out of 258, and a few more from 252 and 253. I thought two years ago was an early start on April 16, but we're almost two weeks ahead this year..

Stay safe, all!

There have been two Quebec CL-415's in Maniwaki (CYMW) past 5 days fighting fires around there. Ice still on some lakes, very early activity to say the least.

4 days ago was talking to an MB "gumment" type out of Winnipeg about the incredible lack of soil moisture reserves in the south of that province. Incidental to our conversation was his remark that his field crew saw 3 single engine tankers operating out of Steinbach MB as early as March 20th. The talked of a couple substantial bush/grass type incidents, big smoke,lots of RM crews scurrying about, about 10-20 miles SE of the town with lots back/forth from Steinbach a/p.

Maybe close to some of that stuff that burned late last fall?

This photo was taken on the first day at Ulsan Korea Harbour. The Harbour master insisted that the plane be towed out 12 miles into the sea of Japan before take off was permitted. Of course the waves were to big and the aircraft was towed back in and craned on the dock at 11 pm. So we were all up at 5 am the next day still suffering from jet lag and this time the Rouge and Justin took off for Ulsan and later Sacheon where we are based in the middle south part of Gyeongsang Province.



I was quite surprised to find a B 29 as well as an A 26 with 8 machine guns in its nose at a Korean war museum here in town. Sacheon is the home of South Korea's aircraft manufacturing and a large military airbase. The airport is only 30 ft above sea level. It has 2 12,000 ft parallel runways. I was a little concerned when I saw the tsunami evac sign in the terminal. The cherry blossoms are all blooming and it's quite beautiful here. My general impression of the country is very good. Korea is very clean and modern. Their highways put ours to shame. Our hosts try hard to please us. They've put us up in 4 brand new apartments with most of everything we need. The food is very spicy but we're all getting to enjoy it.
The country is quite mountainous with peaks reaching 6500 ft in this province. The cities and towns are for the most part on narrow plains in the valleys. The mountains are forested with red and white pine for the most part along with oak and cherry.The main hazard here is the power lines that zig zag everywhere along the mountain tops and across water ways and through the valleys.




Part of the Demo drops for the provincial forestry officials and provincial Govenor.

Thanks, DR! Keep 'em coming, please.

Looking on a map, with all of those hills it seems more like 415 country..

A convenient 9 holes just off the button, too

Take care out there..

Hey DR, very interesting. Please keep us informed, and show us some interesting pics. Enjoy the kimchee.

Well, a bit of a flare-up in SE. Manitoba over the last 4 days or so...Quebec is here with 2 of their 415s, and NWT is on the way with a DC4. At various other times, we've had 4 of the Manitoba machines, an Ontario 415, and also Minnesota's 2's working away..more hot temps/wx tomorrow..

How are you Albertans getting along?

Any more news from Korea?

The fire season in South Korea has ended. We all put on about 40 hours and worked 5 fires. The Korean fire season starts in November till middle of May. We got started late this year.

Well the fire season here in Ontario is just getting started and everyone is already wishing it was over. Eastern Ontario is ablaze with more starts daily. Thunderstorms and strong gusty winds are the forecast for today. More Newfoundland and Manitoba Tankers arriving.

Have fun in Turkey!

Be safe guys and girls, those are some scary looking fires in Ontario. Thank you for your service!

BL

I heard call sign "Fire guard 130" the other day, who was that?

Conair. For several reasons the telephony had to be changed. Increased flying in airspace used by similar sounding call signs, ie COMAIR, being one of them.

CLguy wrote: More Newfoundland and Manitoba Tankers arriving.

CL, Manitoba is already here - protecting the NW region out of Geraldton... Perhaps we'll get across to either Timmins or Sudbury..

North Shore wrote:

CLguy wrote: More Newfoundland and Manitoba Tankers arriving.

CL, Manitoba is already here - protecting the NW region out of Geraldton... Perhaps we'll get across to either Timmins or Sudbury..

Working at YTS and I've seen the Manitoba CL-215s and 415s here. Sometimes they're not there though, assuming they're in Sudbury.

Hey A. welcome to the east. I've been working out of North Bay for the last week. Much better day yesterday. Graham is here with us so if you get a chance stop by. Looking like a couple of down days in the forecast so maybe Tim #9 will get put to bed. Worked the Kirkland Lk fire yesterday and it is pretty much done.

If I eat another ice cream bar, I'm going to explode... Going to be a slow day for business today I think, pop on over Northy, coffee is on and the ice cream is cold.

I'd love to come a bit further east, gents, but it looks as if the rain is coming to put an end to the fun So I suspect that my next flight will be YTH direct...

Still, it's early season yet, so lots more to go.


Buffalo went through YGM a week or so ago, ferrying a 215 over to Turkey. Anyone know how they're getting on? Did they get across the Atlantic yet, or still waiting on the east coast?

fire flyer wrote:Conair. For several reasons the telephony had to be changed. Increased flying in airspace used by similar sounding call signs, ie COMAIR, being one of them.

So what unit was that?