Peak Performance: Flying the Fire Boss
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2023
- Join AOPA’s Air Safety Institute Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden in this first installment as he visits Dauntless Air at their annual training exercise in Cleburne, Texas, to explore their firefighting mission in the amazing Air Tractor Fire Boss aircraft. Ride along to see what it takes to safely scoop 800 gallons of water out of a lake in 15 seconds and then release the roughly 6,600-pound load to douse simulated fires.
Peak Performance videos explore high-risk, high-performing flight operations where pilots and crews push themselves and their aircraft to the edge of performance, doing so safely.
Apply credit to your ASI transcript for watching this video: bit.ly/PPFireBossCredit
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is the largest community of pilots in the world, providing aviation advocacy, education & inspiration. AOPA has represented the freedom to fly for all pilots since 1939. To learn more about becoming a member visit www.aopa.org/jointoday.
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Video made by: @sensensomething
#aopa #flywithaopa #aviation #pilot #flying
Amazing! He makes scooping all that water look so easy. What a neat machine too.
Yep! And it is definitely NOT easy!
All the animals and insects on that island started believing in God, only their God is his aircraft lol
"Wooo free water! That gigantic flying thing is a diety! We don't have to worry about water for another few days, now.."
He's literally at the top of the skill range for doing that.
He knows exactly what he's doing every step of the way.
He might not be able to drop the water "on a dime", but he can do it relatively 'on a dime'..
I bet his accuracy is under 10ft, and under 10ft is absolutely amazing considering he only has 1.67 seconds of drop time (I'm pretty sure the drops we're seeing are at max drop rate)
😢😮@@jonslg240
As a CL-215 instructor myself, I have been co-operating with the fire bosses for a couple of years. These guys are the real deal. Skill and precision. And the greek seas and terrain are no joke, I can assure you. Much respect mates. Have safe flights and landings!
Another perspective: two of these Fire Boss planes saved our community in the 2021 Tamarack fire in Ca/Nv. They flew all the way in to NV from Minnesota. Scooped out of Topaz Lake, Nv. 10 min round trip. I watched the whole thing happen. The folks that fly these have no idea how much their efforts were appreciated!
This is some of the best content you've put out so far. Focus, pilotage, skill, training, and standardization- all focused around a common mission. Not to mention the individual AND collective training & skills required. I've missed this kind of flying since my days in the military. Well done
I seldom write down yt speaks, but this outro is exceptional: "Elite performance begins with strong execution of the fundamentals... They are humble, they didn't consider themselves above simple tools like challenging response calls between each others, and checklists. Elite performers eliminate small mistakes by leveraging simple tools consistently. And they are not embarrassed by simple tools. Their debriefs were specific, detailed and candid, so there were no misunderstandings where mistakes were made and the proper corrections. A tenant of elite performance is setting high standards and holding yourself and your team accountable to these standards."
Talk about leadership material.
Loved the smile on his face at 14:30!
"Yeah, what we do IS awesome!"
Richard McSpadden a legend in the aviation community and a pilot other pilots should be inspired to replicate in their own cockpits. We lost Richard This month and his absence will be felt throughout aviation community far and wide.
What a ride! We need a whole series of Mr. McSpadden trying out every plane, please and thank you
What a great new series!
Great video. Nicely done
Thank you very much!
Living in northern BC I always hate seeing these appear every spring but god I love watching them. If only I had been smarter when I was younger.
My first flight lesson EVER is in a few weeks, and it's humbling to me to see a guy as experienced as Richard still making mistakes, still asking good questions, and still learning.
These are some of the most wicked aircraft & pilots I've ever seen. Truly inspiring stuff.
how are the leasons going?
@@thechosenone9127 My training got postponed due to a stupid medical thing (Thanks FAA) 🤪
But that has since been resolved and hopefully I'll be getting my medical soon so I can start training for real
Wait... this is the same Richard that just died in a plane crash. This video is much sadder now. :(
What an absolutely beautiful video in terms of recording, production, narration and delivery.
While *not* a pilot, I am a student of the profession/hobby/art and as someone who has fought wildland fire for the Forest Service and as a volunteer, I appreciate *every* resource and asset we have available...be it fixed wing or rotor!
I had no idea the AT's could handle 16,000 pounds gross, WOW! A Twin Otter gross is 12,500 with all that wing. The AT looks so short-coupled as well. Thanks for posting this video. We see them often here in Eastern Washington doing pick-ups and I now have huge respect for what is going on. Superb video post.
This was great. Loved the insight into something few people, even in GA, see or appreciate. Also loved the effort in production value and cinematography. It's really hard to marry those two things and tell am honest and compelling story. Keep up the series.
I’ll never forget seeing a 5 ship formation of Air Tractors fighting a fire at Lake Wenatchee, WA. So incredible.
Absolutely A+ content
That was a really enjoyable watch. Thank you. What a bundle of skills those pilots have.
I am AMAZED by this video! Jesse Weaver really nailed on every aspect of flying the airplane and also being able to instruct on how to do it! So much respect for what they do! I have learned so much watching this video! Thank you for sharing it! ✈️ 🔥 🧑🏼✈️
these guys are quite literally saving the planet. i just got my CPL not too long ago and this is my dream gig for sure. going to get my SES rating next!
RIP Richard. Hard to believe
Surprising loss.😢
What happen?
He was in a GA and lost engine and tried to return....almost made too. Sucks
I'm amazed at how wobbly those floats were compared to the fuselage. They're much more rigid on the Beavers, Otters, and Beeches I flew.
Outstanding documentary, wrap up made me feel very good about watching it all.
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with these and other SEAT pilots in my fire career. Always a welcome sight when an 802 is bearing down on you bringing some much needed help.
Between this and your last conversation about banner flying, I love this attention to unusual professional modes, really interesting for the layman who never thinks about this stuff
Glad you enjoyed it!
As long as I'm doing something with aviation I'm happy, but aerial firefighting has always been the dream job!
y'all killed it on this one. can't wait for more. thanks!
I love the deliberate announcement and acknowledgment of who is flying the airplane. So important.
Excellent video. Saw the first Fire Boss at OSH close to 20 years ago, Wipline had it on display and Mark Mattson was the pilot, amazing machine
Such a cool, skilled job and with all the potential pitfalls taken into account (I imagine) highly rewarding to operate as a pilot.
I watched these guys in action last summer as they scooped from Belton Lake very near my house to work a fire Northwest of Fort Hood. It was great to see more in-depth details of how they do it. Awesome!
These aircraft look like Crop Dusters with Floats.
This was a really cool edit for sure.
They are crop dusters with floats, AT-802 with a slightly different engine, prop and airframe to accommodate the extra weight and stress of the floats. I've worked on both wheeled AT-802s and a Fireboss, they're awesome planes!
Exciting machines! Powerful and utilitarian. Talk about a dream job!!!
Incredible. i wish i had applied to join guys like this, when i was in my 20's, instead of just staying in australia, thinking, 'there's no jobs' back when Ansett collapsed...
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. I would’ve never imagined the amount of skill that these pilots have and it was great to showcase them, their skills, and an amazing airplane. Thank you!
Excellent footage. I had no idea this aircraft even existed.
Many thanks and respect to my flying firefighter brothers and sisters for their vital work.
Every video I see about firefighting aircraft operations further convinces me that it’s maybe the most exciting (and prone to risk) flying there is. Thanks for putting this out. I had no exposure to this type and mission specialty.
This was a great video!
The skill of the guys is awesome.
Experience and Professionalism at its best. Great video.
that lil smile when he is drooping the load, priceless.
wow this video is absolutely wonderful content! so many factors go into that kind of aviation, and I had thought I understood it but there was always an additional thing the pilot had to take into account to make a successful flight.
So awesome!! Loved the video-- very educational. Thank you!!
Great report! What got me into flying was three fire bosses flying over my ranch at low level in North Idaho. I love this air frame.
What an amazing flight experience
Dauntless keeps 3 of beasts at my home drone, KBWD, they are just massive. Makes the nearby Fedex Caravan in the hanger look small.
Serious Pilot Skills and in a way that has huge benefit to people and property 😎♠️💙
Great video. Thanks!
Wow! That is so impressive. A fascinating piece beautifuly presented. Thank yoiu for sharing it with us.
ASI....thanks for another excellent informative video....
Fascinating.
I respect that you gave scooping a shot.
Very gratifying to watch! I really enjoyed this!💪👌
Wow that was so awesome to watch.
Makes me wish I could fly.
Beautiful plane, great PT6 and a job to do!! Thanks for the access!
Another great piece, Richard!
Educational and very enjoyable to watch. A truly excellent video!
Just a GREAT video - Well explained & well filmed. Thank you.
Awesome interview and I will especially liked the end on the recap, nice job and thank you!
Wow. I saw this plane fly over my house today and wondered what it was. I figured it was for firefighting as I live near a fire base but wasn’t sure about the skids. Then this video popped up and I knew! Thank you, these aviation videos are fascinating to me.
Awesome video… very cool topic! Thank you!
I’ve been lucky enough to see crews like this in the Okanagan, great pilots.
Thoroughly enjoyed that! Sweet airplane too!
Great segment!
Ive got several videos of them action. They are absolutely amazing to watch in action.
More of these type of videos please!!
Awesome....
This is awesome insight to this level of flying.
What a great guy and such a cool aircraft!! Just amazing journalism. Thank you for sharing.
The air tractor is such an amazing platform the military has purchased a bunch to fly close air support and recon missions out of remote strips for special operations. There is a great CZcams video talking about its capabilities.
What an awsome video! Thanks for sharing that experience with us! Great content!
Amazing video!
Fantastic! Makes me want to fly one of those amazing birds!!
Great video! God bless America. Had a great Flightchops feel to it.
AWESOME video.
Excellent video, please keep up this content.
Excellent content.! 🎉
I had the chance to park my RV-8 next to one last weekend in Brainerd MN. Quite a side-by-side comparison! Thanks for answering so many questions I had.
Gotta love it! ❤
Excelente apresentação do Fire Boss. Vídeo demonstrativo do ambiente em cabine, muito bom. Fiz 37 campanhas de combate a incêndios florestais, nove dos quais em Fire Boss, somando mais de 1000h nesse avião. Estou reformado mas gosto de ver quem opera bem o avião. Parabéns e obrigado por partilharem.
Excellent👍
Bravo!
Awesome! Very nice video.
I live in Harrison hot springs lake in canada b.c. I get to see these guys practice every year. It’s so awesome ! My house is right on the lake, and i have some great footage of these guys..only difference is its in canada.
At 00:40 - OMG they look sooooo awesome!!!!!
Awesome 🤙
Just amaze how he approach the water surface and scoops the water with so smooth.
Pilot are Awesome, and man, this machine is huge.
Cool, thanks for sharing, stay healthy for all of us & Safety First!✌😉
REAAAAALLY love these kinds of videos. Please keep making them, my kids LOVE learning from these videos. (not so much the crash ones hahah)
Awesome vid!
Awsome video
This is one operation that I’d really love to move to. I’ve flown cargo 727 and law enforcement now, both operations are great ones. I wouldn’t fly passenger airline, but I’d definitely would love to fly one of these.
This would be a pretty cool flying gig.
There was some awesome scenes last week in Vancouver, Canada of a fleet of six of these flying in formation to put out a fire on the North Shore.
Such a great video! Might have a new dream job
Recently four of these incredible piloted machines had to come to my neighborhood of Westhill (Spokane WA) and I was surprised first by the true size but then by the formations and how low they were to the ground as the water was placed with precision. I almost forgot about the fire and concentrated on them.
Wow!!!
Nice Ride! I want one..
Just a beautiful beast of a plane! Bomber pilots fighting the good fight!
I still can’t believe we lost Spads !
Wow that was so awesome to watch.Makes me wish I could fly.. This was a great video!The skill of the guys is awesome..
I flew a Cessna A185F scout plane overhead while Jesse and his teammate flew two of these AT-802F tankers off of Lake James in Western NC to demonstrate their effectiveness to the Forest Service in 2012. It's amazing how much water they can drop on a fire by continuously dipping and dropping in a circuit. They need about a mile to take off and climb after scooping up a full hopper. That limits their usefulness somewhat in the mountains since it's not possible to find a long enough lake close to the fire in many cases. However, they are fast so they can go farther away from the fire to find a long enough water source and still drop more water than helicopters with Bambi Buckets. Their huge turbine engines make it possible for them to climb rapidly with a full load even in steep mountainous terrain.