News

When Fire Attacks, DC-10 Tankers Storm to the Rescue

Meg Godlewski

Friday, October 08, 2021 at 06:08 PM ET

Verified

A 10 Tanker aircraft drops some Phos-Chek, a fire retardant. Courtesy: 10 Tanker

Key Takeaways:

10 Tanker, an aerial firefighting organization, utilizes specially modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft to combat wildfires, carrying up to 9,400 gallons of fire retardant.
These large-capacity tankers operate globally, servicing North America during its fire season and the Southern Hemisphere during its opposing season, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution.
Aerial firefighting missions involve precise coordination with ground forces and lead planes, with highly trained pilots executing low-altitude retardant drops following strict safety and effectiveness protocols.

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“Here they come.”

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.