McClellan, Calif.,- This week a five-day contract was officially activated between Evergreen International Aviation and the state of California for the use of a Boeing 747 Supertanker, to combat the deadly fires that have blackened more than 105,000 acres around Los Angeles. The Supertanker is the world’s largest and fastest firefighting aircraft and can deliver more than 20,000 gallons of fire retardant with considerable accuracy (using a unique pressurized delivery system).
The plane deployed retardant over the Oak Glen fire east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County mid-day on Monday. After the successful first drop, the Supertanker was called back into action Monday evening where it made further drops on the massive Station fire north of the city. Because of the aircraft’s ability to travel to Southern California quickly at a speed of 600 mph, the Supertanker is currently stationed at CAL Fire’s base in McClellan, Calif.
“The Evergreen Supertanker is the best airborne firefighting vehicle on this Earth. It is accurate, economical, fast and safe. The 20,000-gallon volume coupled with the pressurized discharge system absolutely shuts down the fire,” said Delford M. Smith, founder of Evergreen International Aviation. “It is a blessing for fire suppression. We know and trust its performance validates its benefit to the world.”
The Supertanker has more than eight times the drop capability and twice the speed of other federal air tankers currently fighting fires. The large capacity of the patented pressurized system is uniquely designed to attack urban interface wildland fires and fight multiple fires in one flight. The Evergreen Supertanker drops at higher altitudes, creating a significant safety buffer. This enables the aircraft to fight fires at night when wildfires are more vulnerable to firefighting tactics. With a drop pattern of three miles in length and a football field wide, the Supertanker will provide a predictable result to minimize costs and collateral damage. The aircraft is also capable of dispersing a variety of products in response to oil spills, soil stabilization, biological/chemical poisoning and radiation.
About Evergreen International Aviation: Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. is a portfolio of diverse companies headquartered in McMinnville, Ore. With international operating authority and a network of global offices and affiliates, Evergreen consists of an international cargo airline that owns and operates a fleet of Boeing 747’s, unlimited aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility, a full-service helicopter company, and aircraft ground handling company, and an aircraft sales and leasing company. In addition to these endeavors, Evergreen owns and operates Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises and is headquartered next to the not-for-profit Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, home of the “Spruce Goose”. For more information about Evergreen, please call (800) 472-9361 or visit www.evergreenaviation.com.
