Sun, Dec 23, 2007
Aerial firefighters
operating Kaman K-MAX helicopters now have a new, highly efficient
alternative water-drop system available for use when fighting
forest and rangeland wild fires.
The new system features a 700-gallon carbon fiber tank developed
by Isolair, Inc., a Troutdale, Ore., based helicopter applications
manufacturer, and Rainier Heli-lift, a Kirkland, Wash., operator of
Kaman's K MAX medium-lift helicopters. The new tank, developed as
an alternative to the K-MAX's existing fire-fighting water tanks,
received a Supplemental Type Certificate from the Federal Aviation
Administration early in the summer.
"This year's extreme fire season has proven the exceptional
value of effective airborne firefighting," said Terry Fogarty,
Director, K-MAX Programs for Kaman Aerospace Corp. "Having new and
highly efficient equipment to combat the fires makes the helicopter
an even more valuable tool."
Key features of the Isolair tank:
- The fully baffled, U-shaped tank can be quickly installed on
the helicopter, giving operators the ability to rapidly alter
aircraft configurations when mission requirements change.
- The tank can be filled to its 700-gallon capacity in less than
a minute as the helicopter hovers over a water source.
- Water drops are controlled by the pilot, either as a full
capacity drop, or sequenced as multiple drops from the same water
load.
- The tank's U-shape and its internal water baffles, which
prevent excessive surging of the load, result in more stable flight
characteristics and greater safety for the aircraft and pilot.
The K-MAX was designed specifically for repetitive external
lifting in harsh environments, including high altitude and hot
weather. A fully loaded Isolair tank weighs less than 6,500 lbs --
well within the K-MAX's lifting capacity. Kaman Aerospace Corp. is
a subsidiary of Kaman Corp.
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