Beriev Be-200 Rural Fire Service

[Firefox]

I wish Australia Rural Fire Service could really have aircraft like this. This could really speed up the entire fire fighting process during the bush fire season.

[Dizzyfugu]

Pretty! 

[Tophe]

Wow! Great! and so unusual

[ericr]

 

[Flyer]

Cool, and very much needed

The Oz gov were offered to buy some Canadair CL-215's in the early 90's, I remember watching one of the demonstration flights, but obviously that didn't work out...

[kerick]

Looks great!
What kit was that?

I agree. I wish agencies would swallow their pride and get the best aircraft for the job. Also they are so used to using second hand stuff from the military or obsolete civilian aircraft that buying new is out of their thought process.

[McColm]

Is that the 1/144 kit? Great build. 

[Old Wombat]

The Oz gov were offered to buy some Canadair CL-215's in the early 90's, I remember watching one of the demonstration flights, but obviously that didn't work out...

I agree. I wish agencies would swallow their pride and get the best aircraft for the job. Also they are so used to using second hand stuff from the military or obsolete civilian aircraft that buying new is out of their thought process.

Governments don't have unlimited funds, especially not the 6th largest country by area, ranked 55th by population. The cost of maintaining the proposed fleet of water-bombers was considered to be prohibitively expensive & the cheaper option of leasing these types of aircraft during the fire danger season was chosen as a fiscally responsible way to achieve the required result.

I am quite sure that if an Australian private company(ies) had bought the aircraft the various governments of Australia would (may? ) have come to a leasing arrangement with them & the private company could have leased the aircraft overseas (the Mediterranean nations, for example) during Australia's winter months to continue generating income (not something the Government can do, it is required to provide "emergency aid" at no cost to the recipient).

[Firefox]

Looks great!
What kit was that?

I agree. I wish agencies would swallow their pride and get the best aircraft for the job. Also they are so used to using second hand stuff from the military or obsolete civilian aircraft that buying new is out of their thought process.

It's Zevzda 1/144 kit. Very nice kit. Price is reasonable too.

[Firefox]

The Oz gov were offered to buy some Canadair CL-215's in the early 90's, I remember watching one of the demonstration flights, but obviously that didn't work out...

I agree. I wish agencies would swallow their pride and get the best aircraft for the job. Also they are so used to using second hand stuff from the military or obsolete civilian aircraft that buying new is out of their thought process.

Governments don't have unlimited funds, especially not the 6th largest country by area, ranked 55th by population. The cost of maintaining the proposed fleet of water-bombers was considered to be prohibitively expensive & the cheaper option of leasing these types of aircraft during the fire danger season was chosen as a fiscally responsible way to achieve the required result.

I am quite sure that if an Australian private company(ies) had bought the aircraft the various governments of Australia would (may? ) have come to a leasing arrangement with them & the private company could have leased the aircraft overseas (the Mediterranean nations, for example) during Australia's winter months to continue generating income (not something the Government can do, it is required to provide "emergency aid" at no cost to the recipient).

Last heard was that some companies trying or lobbying the government to allow this plane to be used here. Apparently it's a Russian product with different standards from the western counterparts and not to mention the politics. Hopefully one day they could get it in.

[rickshaw]

When the fUSSR collapsed they were left with no money.  In an effort to keep their clothing industry afloat they offered Australia a dozen IL-76 transport aircraft configured to fight forest fires.  The Australian wool industry was in big trouble at the time.  The "floor price" had collapsed and many farmers were going broke.  The RAAF looked at the deal and rejected it.  The country fire service looked at the deal and rejected it, believing more, smaller planes were a better deal.   The deal died.  We have had similar efforts since for various aircraft but each has failed because of expense.

[Tophe]

In France, our (young, green?) President Macron says "no matter the cost" to spend freely € billions, hundreds of billions, all added to the debt, with no limit. Why other governments do differently (or/and more seriously)...?
Maybe France will buy 200 copies of Be-200 (scale 1) for Christmas...

[kerick]

That sounds like our government but it's in the $trillions and nobody seems to care.
I know, pretty close to politics.

[jcf]

Fleets of AT802F fire-bombers have proven to be at least as effective, in some locations
more effective, than larger amphibious fire-bombers. They're also far more flexible in
terms of basing and use.
When fitted with Wipaire floats as the AT802F "Fire Boss" it can scoop just about anywhere
it can get in as long as the water has the necessary minimum depth. Something the CL-215
and 415 can't do, never mind the big Be-200.

https://airtractor.com/aircraft/at-802f-fire-boss/

Dunn Aviation, the biggest ag plane operator in Western Australia, operates a fleet of Air Tractors,
the latest two to join the fleet are equipped to also perform in the SEAT (single-engine air tanker)
role.
The aircraft are the 900th and 905th AT802 aircraft built and delivered.
https://airtractor.com/news/2021/08/900th-at-802-joins-fleet-of-largest-ag-operator-in-western-australia/

[Flyer]

Australia has just taken delivery of a national service air tanker based on a 737.

One less we need to beg/borrow/steal during fire season.