Behind the Scenes: Training CAL FIRE's Tanker Pilots for California's Fire Season

Join us as we visit CAL FIRE HQ at McClellan Air Tanker Base in Sacramento to capture CAL FIRE’s tanker pilots train for California's 2024 fire season. This is all for our long-term goal of making a docuseries that will show you what it takes to fight fires from the sky.
To make things more interesting (or complicated, because why not?), we’re testing out two new cameras: the Canon R5C and the RED Komodo, which I've been dreaming about like it’s a sports car. Spoiler alert: we ended up returning one. Want to see which camera didn’t make the cut? Watch until the end! The answer will surprise you.
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Start: Leaving San Diego
01:27 - History of McClellan Air Tanker Base
02:29 - Day 1: Filming tanker training at McClellan Airpot
03:03 - Camera gear
03:50 - Lead Fixed-Wing Pilot, Brad Baker, explains training and recurrency
06:15 - End reflections
07:40 - Returning the camera that didn't make the cut
#McClellanAirTankerBase
#airbornefirefightingtechniques #wildfireairattack #aerialfirefightingequipment #firefightingpilotsinterview #airtankerfirefighting #aviationfiresuppression #training #wildfires #aerialfirefighters #firefighting #behindthescenes #wildlandfirefighting #firefightertraining #firefightingaircraft #fireseason #wildfireresponse #firetraining #aerialfirefighting

[@louisebester1418]

You guys are doing such an amazing job. So proud of you.❤

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thank you Louise!!

[@ryandickson2224]

I grew up in SoCal and these pilots saved my home more times than I can remember. I'm serving as an active duty enlisted in the US Air Force now. I don't medically qualify to be a pilot in the military but I can still get my 1st Class medical from the FAA. Planning on using my GI bill for flight training when I get out. I'll most likely spend time instructing and flying for a regional(possibly major). But becoming a tanker pilot is my end career goal.

[@andrewgumbs562]

Well done and well put together! I’m extremely amazed of the work you both have done to put this video together! The information that is provided from these well professional pilots are very important and inspiring. It goes without saying, that they are the“fire birds” of the sky. As I like to say! Also the camera and gear that captures these beauties are fascinating! Thank you and thank you so much for this! Can’t wait to see more and more !

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thanks so much!

[@tomkelly1684]

I would love to fly for CAL FIRE, it's a shame I live so far away and I'm not American. I wish you the best of luck, good flights.

[@AirborneFirefighters]

You never know! It’s not impossible.

[@wildmodsedits4962]

Thank yall so much ! I love seeing how the other side of fire is .

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thanks for watching!

[@malalexander3515]

Great to see the S2 repurposed! Best wishes from a volunteer rural fire-fighter in Australia 🇦🇺 Also a former S2 avionics technician in the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm.

[@AirborneFirefighters]

So cool! Thanks for watching 🙏🏽

[@AirborneFirefighters]

So cool! Thanks for watching 🙏🏽

[@skyeparker5822]

You should interview Jim Merryfield air attack pilot flying the OV-10 out of Rohnerville. Dudes a legend.

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thanks for the tip!!

[@danielkemp4860]

Hey Jaco, come back to SA to film the VWS and Leading Edge in the Cape 🙌 (I’m a VWS firefighter)

[@jacobester7372]

Maybe one day we will:)! I’d love to come back there and fly the Hawk:)

[@simoncourtney1592]

Using X-Plane In the sims by the looks of things...Such a powerful platform

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thanks for watching!

[@simoncourtney1592]

@@AirborneFirefighters 😄

[@erikmichels1879]

Should go to Hollister Ca to there air attack.

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Stay tuned 😉

[@keatonhare7691]

Make sure to grade this footage! Seems like a lot of these are still in LOG

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thanks for watching!

[@harjotdhanota361]

exactly what I was going to say

[@phantomf4747]

Looking forward to this. My old man did 20 years civil service work on that base before he retired. Once in civilian hands, I worked there for 8. Best things I ever saw there was AF1 land and seeing President Trump. 2nd was touring the USCG base and meeting the crews of the C27's that fly out of there and sadly, the last one was seeing non-stop 747 and DC 10 fire bombers cycle in during the Camp fire. The most disgusting thing I ever saw the FBI director Chris Wray arrive in a G5.

[@AirborneFirefighters]

That’s some history man! Out of curiosity, you got any archival photos or video? Looking for some historical footage of the base. Thanks for watching!

[@phantomf4747]

@@AirborneFirefighters nothing but the address plaque from my dads building when he retired. Building 640. I have it mounted in my garage and see it every day when I come home. The aviation museum there might have something for you though. Wait I do have a commemorative patch created for the closing.

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Great tip! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@Wileybird03]

You guys take crop dusters?

[@AirborneFirefighters]

What do you mean?

[@dtsh4451]

It’s a public sector job with good pay, very difficult to get into. A good ole boy’s club😂

[@Wileybird03]

@@dtsh4451 that’s what I figured. Not so much what you know as it is who you know👍

[@MorganaWingard]

Checkout California Fire Pilots Association for more info

[@madbager1]

What California actually preps for fire season😂😂😂😂

[@AirborneFirefighters]

Thanks for watching!