You know for all the environmental concerns fire fighting / equipment seems to get very little upgrading the Mars bombers were always our go to as a effective way to control outbreaks but have mothballed them saying they are too expensive to operate going to a frickin jet that has to land to reload! To me it just doesn’t make sense.
I believe the jets are primarily used for dropping retardant, skimmer planes have become smaller and more manuverable, one of the problems with the Mars are the size of lake required and the terrain. Here in Lillooet for instance we don't have a straight shot in or out of many of the fires, although, we do have the lake.
Unfortunately there's no perfect tool, the Mars are cool and I am quite sentimental towards them, but I do kinda understand their limitations, would be nice to see them go up to the Prince George area though..... Lots of flat burning land up that way.....
