Helicopter Investor

Columbia Helicopters CH-47D Chinook fights first wildfire

by · June 20

Columbia Helicopters have added internal firefighting tanks to its fleet of CH-47D Chinook helicopters this season. The fleet was called upon and N471CH has now fought its first wildfire in Minnesota.

Working in the land of 10,000 lakes, the Chinook and crew fought a 100 acre fire and were able to extinguish it in just a single fuel cycle.

The crew was able to fill the tank 21 times during the fuel cycle. The US Forest Service representatives are apparently very pleased with the results.

The US Forest Service recently signed a contract with Columbia Helicopters who will provide five helicopters to help fight wildland fires, the contract includes that two of the aircraft are CH-47D Chinooks fitted with these internal tanks. More helicopters will be provided if required.

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Terry Spruce

Terry is Senior News Editor and writes for both Corporate Jet Investor and Helicopter Investor. He is also responsible for our helicopter guides. Terry has been an aviation enthusiast since the early 1970s. He is a lapsed Private Pilot and ex-Piper Cherokee owner. He has flown a number of light aircraft and is comfortable sitting in the co-pilot's seat or the back of any aircraft. Before moving to journalism he was a banker for 20 years. You can contact him at: terry@corporatejetinvestor.com or follow him on twitter @Terry_Spruce

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