Reports of Large Air Tanker down in Australia-Jan 2020

Australian authorities are investigating reports of a Large Air Tanker that has crashed in Australia. Contact was lost while it was working the Snowy Manaro area and ground crews indicated that it crashed.

mobile.abc.net.au...

Authorities confirmed the aircraft was a C-130, believed to have 3 crew members on board.

7news.com.au...

a reply to: Zaphod58

hope they find the crew safe, i know they didnt go with expanding the tanker fleet before the fires started how many of these tankers do they have?

www.smh.com.au...

The nation's aerial firefighting centre called four years ago for a "national large air-tanker" fleet to confront a growing bushfire threat but was turned down in a federal government ruling that the task was one for the states. The National Aerial Firefighting Centre, which oversees a fleet of 145 aircraft, warned of hotter and more extended bushfire seasons in a call on governments in May 2016 to establish the major new capability.

this says 145 but how many of them were the "bigger ones" like the c130 that just went down ?

Dangitt...a Hercules......God love em

Wonder if wing fold, otherwise terrain impact best guess having seen some videos.

a reply to: RalagaNarHallas

Most are smaller aircraft. What they call SEAT or Single Engine Air Tanker aircraft, and helicopters. Coulson has at least one 737 based there, which is considered the crown jewel of the fleet. They have several C-130s from North America as well as two MD-87s, and currently two DC-10s. There are several C-130s based in Australia as well.

Coulson sent one of their C-130s, nicknamed Thor, down in October. No word yet if that's the same aircraft yet though.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Damn, they aren't getting a break in the run of bad luck at present.

Hope the crew are OK.

I also hope it pushes the government to fund emergency services like these. They are necessary!

Confirmed through unofficial sources it was Coulson's T134, a C-130Q. It's the fourth C-130 they converted and began working fires for them in November of 2018 after being pulled from the Boneyard and refurbished and converted.

A search and rescue effort is underway, involving helicopters, other C-130s, and a P-8A. Witnesses reported a fireball as the aircraft impacted the ground. Five ambulances and two additional helicopters are enroute.

originally posted by: Zaphod58


Authorities confirmed the aircraft was a C-130, believed to have 3 crew members on board.

7news.com.au...

Only 3? Was it a J model?

a reply to: Xtrozero

It was a former Navy Q model. The tankers usually fly with three. They don't carry a loadmaster.

FR24 gif of the flight path. A RAAF helicopter was seen circling the area shortly after the track stopped.

originally posted by: Zaphod58


It was a former Navy Q model. The tankers usually fly with three. They don't carry a loadmaster.

Ya I was thinking that too.

No sign of survivors. The wreckage has been found. Authorities say the aircraft impacted hard, and exploded. Coulson immediately grounded their other aircraft while they attempt to determine it wasn't an external issue, such as fuel contamination.

Condolences to their family and friends, RIP American friends and hero`s for helping us downunder.

Very sad to hear.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Hey Zaphod, I recall we had a couple C-130's crash out west a long time ago fighting wildfires. Both had the wing break.

While trying to extinguish a wild fire, a C-130 tanker loses its wings mid-air and crashes. (2006)

C-130 Tanker Loses Wings & Crashes

Later they said that x-rays showed stress cracks where the wing attached to the fuselage. Do you think this may have happened in AU or was there repairs made that stopped the wing break problem?

a reply to: spirit_horse

That was at least in part because of Depot level maintenance data from the Air Force to civilian MROs. There was no civilian equivalent to the Depot at the time. That was resolved after the 2006 accident.

From Coulson, making the rounds on social media-

Just coming through on my news feed now, 3 x US Residents dead.

Very sad loss especially for fire fighting volunteers (or otherwise) trying to help another country.

RIP

Three American heroes perished.

www.foxnews.com...

Prayers for their families.