![]() 08/24/2020 at 10:39 • Filed to: wingspan, Planelopnik | ![]() | ![]() |
In a video filmed last year in Croatia, a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! makes some ridiculously low passes over a brushfire in a narrow ravine. The fire began next to a rail line and quickly spread up the side of the valley. After a couple of passes across the face of the valley wall, the pilot makes some bonkers dives straight down the valley wall (beginning at 2:00 in the video). With so little room to maneuver in the tight confines of the valley, it feels a little bit like a knife fight in a phone booth. Water bombers always have to work in extremely dangerous conditions to get the water on the fire, and these pilots are among some of the best.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 10:48 |
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WOW. Dude probably lives for this stuff.
Made me think of this doc:
https://www.netflix.com/title/81273620
![]() 08/24/2020 at 10:51 |
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![]() 08/24/2020 at 10:58 |
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Aerial firefighters and crop dusters have ridiculous skills. And bravery.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 11:10 |
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Correct, Margin of Error is still banned here.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 11:12 |
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I think it might be more a matter of an extreme confidence in their ability. You pull stuff like that unless you are supremely confident you can pull it off. If you have any doubts at all, you should hang it up.
It’s sort of like the relief pitcher. To be successful , you have to want to go into the game in the bottom of the ninth with no outs and the bases loaded in game 7 of the world series.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 11:30 |
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![]() 08/24/2020 at 11:38 |
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This is still my all-time favorite DC-1o tanker video. Just listen to those engines.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 12:28 |
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Goodness gracious. Those folks are a different breed.
Th ough to be fair, I’m sure it’d be a blast to sit shotgun if you knew you wouldn’t crash (which, of course, you wouldn’t).
![]() 08/24/2020 at 12:37 |
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Yes, you have to want it. But you also have to have great stick and rudder skills. They're both required.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 12:40 |
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And a fatigue-free airframe.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 12:49 |
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Yes, you need both. Lots of people really want something, but don’t have the talent for it. I think it’s equally important to learn what you are no good at as it is to learn what you are good at.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 13:08 |
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Oh god yes on that.
![]() 08/24/2020 at 14:00 |
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I always loved the CL-215...old-school, but awesome!
![]() 08/24/2020 at 14:28 |
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![]() 08/24/2020 at 15:51 |
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On our drive back to CO from NY, I spotted a crop duster and was able to point it out to my son JUST in time. That’s some crazy flying!
We’re seeing the tankers come in to land daily here after working the fires on the western slope.