For you fire guys...the end of an era

[Gologit]

Aero Union, one of the oldest and most respected air tanker outfits is closing down.



Plant & Machinery Inc. - Auctioneer in Houston, Texas

 

[2dogs]

Aero Union? Didn't they steal those aircraft?

Bob how many 5 gallon bladders can one fit in a Steerman?

 

[madhatte]

Weird to think that the some of the most super-secret stuff in the world is still carted around in P-3's, and I can buy them third-hand, if I just have the money.

 

[Gologit]

Aero Union? Didn't they steal those aircraft?

Bob how many 5 gallon bladders can one fit in a Steerman?

Hey now, the whole airtanker business started with Stearmans. On hot days, with a 450, they used to carry a whopping 150 gallons.

http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/tdih_1st_tanker_drop.pdf


And no, those aircraft weren't really stolen. Not exactly anyway. I mean, nobody actually went to jail or anything. Besides, Neptune, TBM, and a bunch of other tanker outfits were all in on the same deal. It's a long story.

 

[madhatte]

Bob how many 5 gallon bladders can one fit in a Steerman?

I could probably give you an exact number for that if my grandma hadn't had the audacity to die 25 years ago. She was an aviation pioneer of a kind that doesn't exist any more. She was also crazy as a loon, but that goes with the territory.

Also, the coolest thing I ever got to fly was an old N3N-3 with a 450 Pratt up front. Taking off was the best thing ever: stand on brakes, punch throttle, let 'er rip, and POW! 1000 feet before you know it. Even got it in my logbook.

 

[2dogs]

Weird to think that the some of the most super-secret stuff in the world is still carted around in P-3's, and I can buy them third-hand, if I just have the money.

Yeah like nuclear weapons fly out of Moffet Field. Sub hunters.

 

[madhatte]

Yeah like nuclear weapons fly out of Moffet Field. Sub hunters.

See, that doesn't faze me so much because I used to see 'em on the boat. P-3's were sorta creepy-sacred.

 

[2dogs]

See, that doesn't faze me so much because I used to see 'em on the boat. P-3's were sorta creepy-sacred.

Back story? I assume you mean subs?

 

[Gologit]

I could probably give you an exact number for that if my grandma hadn't had the audacity to die 25 years ago. She was an aviation pioneer of a kind that doesn't exist any more. She was also crazy as a loon, but that goes with the territory.

Also, the coolest thing I ever got to fly was an old N3N-3 with a 450 Pratt up front. Taking off was the best thing ever: stand on brakes, punch throttle, let 'er rip, and POW! 1000 feet before you know it. Even got it in my logbook.

You should try one with a 600. A lot of the rice guys hung 1340s on the Stearmans and N3-Ns...it didn't make them any faster but you could carry a better load.

It was kinda neat to make a night takeoff with one and see how much hot blue flame you could get out of the stack.

And, just for the record...aviation people aren't loonie. They're just, uh, well, different. I come from a whole family of them and that's all I'm sayin'.

 

[madhatte]

Back story? I assume you mean subs?

Naw, I'm a carrier guy (a "target"). We carried these:

And, just for the record...aviation people aren't loonie. They're just, uh, well, different. I come from a whole family of them and that's all I'm sayin'.

I come from a family of 'em as well, and I can say for certain that my grandma took "head in the clouds" to a whole new level.

You should try one with a 600. A lot of the rice guys hung 1340s on the Stearmans and N3-Ns...it didn't make them any faster but you could carry a better load.

First chance I get, I'm in!

 

[Joe46]

My Sis &BIL used to live on Henry's Lake, Id. Watched a Bombardier(sp?) fly in one afternoon drop down on the lake, skim it till it was loaded and lift off. Very cool thing to watch.