Reloading the 747 SuperTanker

This shows part of the process of reloading the aircraft with compressed air and 19,200 gallons of water in Santiago, Chile. There was no air tanker infrastructure or fire hydrant, so trucks had to transport the water which was then stored in portable tanks. Much of the work was done by local bomberos (firefighters) who fine-tuned the process making it quicker every day. At air tanker bases in the U.S. air tankers are reloaded by pulling one or two hoses on rollers out to the aircraft. No trucks are required.

[@ale.nav1]

Chilean firefighters loaded the Supertanker in 11:55 minutes, achieving a world record and also had 7 consecutive flights.

[@angelicarojas5335]

Thanks SuperTanker and our wonderful Cuerpo de Bomberos for all the help that you are giving our dear Country

[@klmxp352]

Felicidades a los Bombero de Chile. Por su gran trabajo coordinado llenando en tiempo record el supertanker.

[@HEMI-MOMMA]

SO HAPPY to see the grand lady being used this way! There's so many parked in the desert that still have many good years left in them. She always brought me home safe and sound.

[@cats400]

it costs many millions to retrofit a 747 for this kind of work. It probably cost several times the cost of buying a747 out of long term storage to retrofit one of them into a "Super Tanker"

[@MartinGomez-pt1cy]

I was wondering about it all. Thanks for sharing!

[@bassplayermarty6032]

13 min reload is good BUT you need an airport that can land a 747 where as the CL-415 can scoop up form a small lake etc while still flying....

[@mhamma6560]

If you want to quickly put out a large fire, you'll use everything. It's a 747, it flies to the job site. It will also do 125 miles in 15 minutes. 747 is still the fastest passenger jet in the sky today. Even full of water it's lighter than it would be carrying people or cargo. Doesn't have to carry all that fuel. Bet it only uses the wing tanks (keeps stress off the spars). Even at a 1:2.5 thrust to weight ratio, that is a sports car.

[@colinpovey9560]

Scooping, where possible, is very efficient. However, it is dangerous, as a partially submerged tree could take down a scooper aircraft. THE other downside to scooping is that scoopers are pretty much limited to firefighting, while most of the other aircraft can be used for cargo or other uses.

[@johnmcelwain5884]

So...put the scoup on a 747 and be done with it. The Western USA is on fire, 747 are being retired and with Covid pilots need work. SO GUT a 747 and make a federal fire force.

[@calliarcale]

@@johnmcelwain5884 That would be a very interesting engineering challenge. You'd basically have a to convert the 747 into a seaplane, and that would mean giving it an entirely new hull. Would possibly be simpler to design a new one from the ground up -- or else buy the Spruce Goose. ;-)

[@liubolun]

@@colinpovey9560 Also, need to dodge the kayakers and fishing boats on the water. Phew...

[@TheWeberGer]

Thanks, a lot Supertanker.

[@phantomf4747]

I toured this aircraft at KMCC back in 2018 after the Camp fire. What a sight to behold. Sad that it's no longer a fire bomber. #747 #CalFire #wildlandfire

[@orlando130910]

Grande bomberos de Chile

[@nabasaeria1145]

thnks 4 da work welldone

[@dixfer203]

This thing would be great to rent for gags at outdoor weddings and birthday parties!

[@Rampant16]

Dixfer That much water landing on someone would kill them.

[@cookieflavoredoreo4685]

FightlessFighter Exactly

[@AwkwardYet]

This comment didn’t age well

[@illumination101]

Plus about 250k each run or more

[@guesswho36]

That plane n fire truck shiny af, looks new lol

[@keithhill77]

So the government finally gave approval to use this big guy. Cool.

[@dylconnaway9976]

Keith Hill Yeah, she is in California now.

[@imthefuckinglizardking4590]

It's makes so much more sense to use this rather than the little helicopters picking up 1000 gallons at a time this is able to drop 19,000 you can't put out these massive fires with little buckets and hoses. Plus at 16grand per flight hour it's really not that expensive compared to the smaller planes and helis that cost 1/3 the price per flight hour but only pick up 1/19 as much water at a time..seems much more cost efficient and actually effective against the fires

[@LifebyNathanael]

im thefuckinglizardking exactly Especially in places like British Columbia that is burning up

[@imthefuckinglizardking4590]

@@LifebyNathanael im in California and were experiencing the same thing already over 1500 homes burned this year and the most aggravating thing to me if I was a homeowner that lost a home is that the fire department and forest service has specifically said they aren't even trying to fight the fires they are just trying to contain them...avg home price in California is 550grand if that tanker can save one home per hour at its flight cost of 16k per hour it's worth it.

[@jaysmith1408]

im thefuckinglizardking the houses are 550 grand because that’s what they’ll pay. Meanwhile appraised at 100 grand.

[@Anon-ek3ck]

We could really use these in Australia right now but no, scott Morrison prefers a 60 million dollar statue of captain fucking cook

[@redf1966]

Canada needs 1 or 2 747 jumbo tankers ,we are having the worst forest fire season in 60 years.

[@mhamma6560]

It's a full speed 747 and it's for hire.

[@liamsteele4982]

go all out and get 10

[@paulshaw5119]

No ---all you need is for the Canadian government to get off their asses & have the MARTIN MARS water bombers ready to go when the fire season starts.These planes have been doing this for years & they are VERY GOOD AT IT!!

[@EldaTurra]

thanks so much Supertanker

[@MNalex]

12 minutos en el llenado del super tanke ,perfecto ..

[@agustinenzoa4447]

Ni en pedo. Con suerte 30' con esas mangueritas de bombero standard.

[@EMDFAST]

hola ..ese fue el record ..dicho por la propia tripulacion ..y de echo estan usando el mismo sistema para apurar la carga en eeuu

[@stevenkain5014]

Yes this is a very awesome aircraft ... this is a former Evergreen aircraft and the fire suppression system developed by the same

[@patch5859]

Global asset!!! Wish the US Forrest service would use it more often!!! California just called it in!!!

[@jamesshanks2614]

With the high capacity bypass blowers on the main engines why used a separate ground mount air compressor when a bypass pipe from two or more main engines could provide the compressed air in flight? Seems like an extra step that could be easily done on board in flight.

[@williamsimmons152]

FANTASTIC!!!

[@divlles]

kind of wish coud have seen more of the set up and thing cus look realy cool

[@MichaelEricMenk]

747 tanker setup, control panel ++ kzbin.info/www/bejne/el7TdGqOjq2JbdU

[@HavardCastiglioni]

That is one cool jet.

[@paulrevere2928]

Very cool thanks to everyone great work in service of humanity! Peace

[@docholliday3273]

That many vehicles in close proximity to an aircraft with, what appears to be, nobody in charge, scares the crap out of me.

[@alonsoromo5009]

# firefighter lives matter!!!!! Worth every penny.

[@rickallman1318]

Exellente.

[@mikevonkleist6767]

This bird is amazing. Why not use these planes for this. The 747 was and still is an impressive airplane. I remember, as a boy, the introduction of this beautiful bird.

[@IsaacOLEG]

the engines need to be higher to refill on abwater plan ?

[@robertchinnock8017]

We could do with about 4 of these in our big wounderful of australia

[@mattaviation7472]

Robert Chinnock this summer is not going to be good. Everything dead

[@spectre9357]

Mattaviation747 we been lucky in victoria this year.

[@agustinenzoa4447]

Well you have plenty of Quantas B747s that will be decommissioned some time soon. I read that wildfires are pretty common in ozland as well..

[@calvasal020802]

Ok

[@scottheffernan1305]

We need 80 this year

[@dovidell]

The aussies know MONTHS in advance that they have ANNUAL wildfires , yet have nothing like this to fight the fires that can literally last weeks , amazing !!

[@dianecrumb940]

isn't it based in colorado springs

[@krlitaa]

woooow !

[@robc.5745]

How many gallons do they hold.

[@gregbroad3118]

Are you guys busy at the moment. We could use it in Australia right now...............

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

thousands of fires around the world and THOUSANDS of planes sitting on the ground. !!!

[@kendallruedger4621]

This is based right down the street from me at McClellan air park for all our California fires

[@martinmcz]

How many weights are loaded? around 75t ?

[@kinetickutz]

18,000 gallons of thick, goopy, slop. So however much 18,000 gallons of melted ice cream with dirty motor oil mixed together weighs.

[@antr7493]

wouldn't it be nice if they can refill the water tanks mid air, like refueling. Landing and reloading is time consuming

[@kinetickutz]

You would need a whole other probably bigger jet to be able to refill the supertanker mid flight and that one would need to land and be refilled anyway. Plus you would need a huge international sized airport nearby to make it in time. Most fires aren’t near big international airports. Im sure the supertanker needs a big runway too being a 747. Probably just easier, less manpower needed, and more efficient to use just the supertanker. I’m sure they have thought about this if it was a viable option.

[@alextheskaterdude07]

Can they use grey water or ocean water? (I know salt is bad for ecosystems and can corrode equipment.)

[@EMDFAST]

POTABLE ..WATER....

[@groundworks81]

note no fuel loaded , as the run on air not fuel?????

[@destravlr]

No ear protection?

[@KosukiFire]

Ur filling with 2.5" hoses. This may take awhile

[@studinthemaking]

KosukiFire 19,000 gallons long.

[@agustinenzoa4447]

Chilean 3rd world resources. What can you expect..

[@MomedicsChannel]

At 300gpm, it would take 66 minutes for a single line. 33 for two. Also that appears to be 3” line.

[@agustinenzoa4447]

MomedicsChannel how long to fill the compressed air tanks to operational psi? Thxs

[@eldrugoalex]

Agustin Enzoa 13 minutes is what you can expect for well trained firefighters. For first time the SuperTanker was able to make 7 drops in a single day. You can take your condescension and put it one of your body holes.

[@simonsupersi2225]

So all that each time pack away why not leave it out ready for next reload

[@demetrioherbas1998]

V

[@soflaav8r]

Why don't they use bleed air to replenish the compressed air tanks onboard the aircraft vs using an external air compressor?

[@ripplecutbuddha]

because it's unsafe to have the main engines running with ground crew and equipment around the aircraft. Something could get sucked into the fan and ground the aircraft for months.

[@soflaav8r]

ripplecutbuddha the APU doesn't put out enough bleed air? And why can't they pressurize the tanks after main engine start?

[@ripplecutbuddha]

Maybe the tanks in question aren't in the same system as the aircraft compressor system. Maybe the APU really doesn't put out enough bleed air even if it is. You saw the size of those air lines, looks to me like the portable compressor was a monster most likely able to get it done faster.

[@josmith4531]

I can only guess that the airframe was a refit and not a custom build, so air line just might not be big enough to move enough air before it gets to the drop zone

[@bernardolozano7429]

ripplecutbuddh they use the compressor to start the apu

[@raulsegura4843]

Gracias a todos x su gran hidalgia

[@fach44a968]

Dime que no se podia???

[@VuDucNhuan.0102]

Australia is very needing it

[@waynepowell567]

Wow. A small Army. Looks like they should refine this process a bit. Nice work though.

[@EMDFAST]

HELLO ...CHILEAN FIREFIGTHERS

[@imthefuckinglizardking4590]

It's able to drop 19,000 gallons at a time....and at a flight cost of 16grand per hour with the California wildfires if this is able to make one drop per hour and save one home it's more than worth it.

[@imthefuckinglizardking4590]

@@Kevin-ik5le hopefully it's your home that catches fire and nobody comes to put it out.

[@cathringustafsson4879]

Yes WATER. A fire fighter

[@hempcleto7521]

Spicy.

[@jasonharper2601]

need bigger hoses and larger high capacity equipment . seems to be a long turn around time

[@kinetickutz]

Did you see how many men it took just to move those hoses around? Anything bigger would require all the guys from the strong man competitions.

[@peanut111shorty]

Location?

[@EMDFAST]

HELLO ..CHILE FIRE ....ARTURO MERINO BENITEZ AIRPORT ...

[@joebobjoesayshi]

1:26 the usage of the ramp right there seem to violate OSHA fall requirements

[@sephiroth1349]

Would only need to put the rails up, I'm pretty sure this isn't a violation. I worked many many years loading luggage for passenger planes and cargo planes and we only did it because of the height we were going up, some planes like the DC-8 you can't have the handrails up because the door for the belly pit are on the underside of the aircraft.

[@bayarearaised1894]

Do somthing about the Amazon fires!!!!

[@bayarearaised1894]

Thankyou so much for highliting this i was furious when i seen the small ass planes and helicopters they were using on the biggest most important fire to mankind

[@jadefalcon001]

The Amazon fires are set by humans. Air tankers are only effective when used as part of a concerted firefighting effort with personnel on the ground. You won't get that in areas being burned out by illegal logging that the Brazilian government has no interest in preventing. Just a reminder: The Amazon is on the OTHER side of the Andes from Chile. Aircraft operating in Chile have no authorization to enter Brazilian airspace to conduct operations.

[@MrCarnutbill67]

And that, ladies and gentlemen is how Keith Richards has his heroin delivered.

[@mpjopatv401]

the 747 supertanker got scrapped

[@sripathi2935]

nic vdio good brother

[@giovannigiorgio0]

How long does the filling process take?

[@kinetickutz]

Fastest time 11 minutes. Average time 15-20 mins

[@giovannigiorgio0]

@@kinetickutz thanks for respond

[@kinetickutz]

@@giovannigiorgio0 sorry!! I guess normal turn around time is 30 mins average.

[@michaelpass2176]

Takes about 30 min. To reload 747-400.

[@chadwinslow5493]

Meanwhile the Martin Mars would be on its second run if not it's 3rd in that time span

[@kinetickutz]

Only takes 11-15 mins to refill. This holds 18,000 gallons. How much does the Martin Mars carry?

[@PepperDogYT]

Then help the air tanker will be full of tanker fire

[@Wouter-van-der-Molen]

you'd think there would be a more efficient way of loading the water onto the plane

[@kinetickutz]

Its not water. Its retardant that comes in a powder form and has to be mixed with water first and then loaded onto the jet. Thats what those big tubs were doing.

[@HighOnLife1985]

Takes a tanker to fill a tanker. Ironic

[@bertl680]

72672 Liter Wasser Wow

[@tomasgutierrez8809]

Chile 🇨🇱

[@sinistershenanigans965]

Are they the umperlumper fire men 😂😂😂😂

[@benhuot6852]

wrong plane for the job, get some CL 415 to do that, way more efficient

[@andreaandrea6963]

Chile

[@hhhula4315]

Whats hapend IF you putt to motch wother

[@jk0423]

Leonardo Anjen it should say “What happens IF you put to much water.”

[@hhhula4315]

Jeffrey Kovach That was my little brother

[@user-hl9jv3kq5w]

الحمد لله

[@549BR]

At $250,000.00 a day, how much of this can California afford?

[@jumperstartful]

Cal spent 12 billion on fire fighting in 2017. No total for 2018 yet. 1.3 Billion on the rebuilding of the Oroville Spillway so far. Who knows how many billion on the Bullet Train. Illegals are not paying taxes they are burning up tax revnue. So when will it end. How long can the Fed keep supporting California. Robbing Peter to pay Paul can't go on forever especially when the middle income class is being squeezed out.

[@walterconcrete5017]

BR549: That’s like one burned home

[@kinetickutz]

Cheaper then $2.5 million in properties burning everyday they don’t use the supertanker. You must not have had to evacuate your home in less then 10 minutes from a wildfire barreling down on you. Once you do that, you will fully appreciate anything and everyone involved in fighting these fires at any cost. At least until the state has completely burned down and can’t catch fire anymore for 10-15 years til the trees grow back again.

[@SmartassX1]

What's the point of those water tanks at 2:37 to 3:10 ?

[@Wildfiretoday]

Chile had no infrastructure for servicing air tankers. Those portable tanks were set up to store the water before it was pumped by a fire engine onto the aircraft. Most of the water systems in Chile are privately owned, and there are very few fire hydrants. Large numbers of trucks, called water tenders in the U.S., hauled water from miles away to fill the portable tanks. A water enhancement chemical stored on the 747 was mixed with the water (at a very low concentration) after it was loaded onto the aircraft, to enhance the effectiveness for suppressing the wildfires.

[@rafaelramos7162]

Negativo el primero que muestras es el Supertanker 747es el mas grande en el mundo y se reabastece desde tierra con mangueras de Agua similar a las de los bomberos en aproximadamente 30 minutos

[@louperez953]

Se pueden ir a Russia en este 747

[@thichidulich361]

Do you need the small rain? Please call Global Supertanker.

[@corolla9545]

This is one good thing about the 747, its an all around working machine, unlike the crappy piece of shit A380.

[@ezquimal]

el único problema de ese avión es la cantidad de kerosene que consume a bajas alturas.

[@ziodres2212]

ezquimal En comparación a la contaminación que generan los incedios forestales...

[@bigbob1699]

A 380s need not apply .

[@gloriadeloslagos631]

👏👏🇨🇱🇨🇱👏👏🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@Reaperrr53]

Too bad Oregon wasn't smarter they would have already deployed this in the Columbia gorge and saved all of our homes and hiking!

[@kidcars2675]

Why are they using the fire department

[@number-td3mt]

This happend in the country of Chile in South America. They have limited infrastructure at the airport so to refill the plane with water (this being a firefighting jet) they had to bring in several water trucks to fill the water tanks. As well as the normal airport trucks that provide the actual jet fuel for the engines.

[@shaunoneill3727]

A lot of fire fighter's there that could be elsewhere seems a waste

[@studinthemaking]

Why they leave the engines on? What about FOD damage or just wasting fuel? Why wwctaking all the water out? Why we saving it?

[@number-td3mt]

The engines were off. What you were hearing was the air pump to pressurize the water tanks on the plane and/or the gpu (Ground Power Unit) witch provides electricity to the plane when the apu and the engines are off on the ground. As for the second part of your sentence, if I understood it correctly, they were not taking water out but instead refilling the plane's water tanks.

[@PInk77W1]

The A380 can kiss my as

[@thesunsetreptiles]

Stick to the D.C. 10

[@JanitorIsBack]

talk about a waste of man power and water

[@blackpage716]

What a ridiculous and inefficient method.

[@peanut111shorty]

Better idea?

[@soupfork2105]

Jarred Jackson Use B-1B bombers, load plastic laser-guided bombs full of water in the bomb bays that have an altitude fuse to air burst above the fire.

[@bh9245]

Jarred- they already blow through the fire suppression budget using the methods they have. Don’t think there is a budget around that could stomach a $1m water balloon

[@mikeythesoulace]

Besides, 50 years ago when the US military was experimenting with different methods they found that water bombs are ineffective for firefighting from the air

[@Czecher86]

terrible....so many ppl its jsut big waste of money and time...get 2 x CL 415s for this crap. .