Water Bomber CL-415 Photo

Photographer’s Note

Aerial firefighting (or water bombing) is a method to combat wildfires using aircraft. The types of aircraft used may be either fixed-wing or helicopters. Agents used to fight fires may be either water or specially-formulated fire retardants. Smokejumpers are also classified as aerial firefighters; being delivered by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing aircraft.

The Bombardier, formerly Canadair CL-415, is a Canadian amphibious aircraft purpose-built as a water bomber. It is the only aircraft designed and built specifically for fire fighting and is based on the company's CL-215.

The 415 can scoop up to 6 140 litres (1350 Can gal or 1620 US gal) of water from a nearby water source, mix it with foam suppressant if desired and drop it on a fire without having to return to base to refill its tanks. The 415 was specifically developed to provide the capability to deliver massive quantities of suppressant to a fire in its initial stages, preventing it from getting out of control.

The 415 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops replacing the 215's piston engines. The 415 has an updated cockpit, as well.

It first flew in December of 1993 and the first deliveries were in November of 1994.

The CL-415 design originates in a requirement for a firefighting amphibious flying boat to detect and suppress forest fires. The aircraft is built for reliability and longevity, with use of corrosion-resistant materials. Water loads are drawn in and can be mixed internally with fire reardants; speed is essential and missions can take as little as 10 minutes. The CL-415 has also been used in a paramilitary SAR role.

Operators

Canada - 17 (Quebec - 8 CL-415 and Ontario - 9 CL-415)
Croatia - 3 (CL-415)
France - 13 (CL-415)
Greece - 10 (CL-415GR - 8 and CL-415MP - 2)
Italy - 14 (CL-415)
Spain - 1 (CL-415)

pastadog, teutza, Henryk_Bilor, delkoo, cunejo200, Floydian, Wanda1, fayeulle, cessy, riclopes, atus, MeAT, balatrek has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pastadog (12821) 2006-11-25 4:24

Spectacular shot, Paolo, the few elements are great, I esp. like how you captured the sun here, compliments, Daniel
ps I wonder whether this method can be used to refresh people in the beach in the summer

rosaline (0) 2006-11-25 4:44

Hi Paolo
A great and dynamic capture of this water bomber. I like the inclusion of the sun in the shot, which is not easy to capture, but you have done very well. There is no flare and the plane is exposed well, as we can see good detail underneath. Nice work.
Aubrey

teutza (10568) 2006-11-25 5:12

Hy Paolo,
very nice composition!good choice to catch the sun and the plane in the same image!!
TFS!
teo

Henryk_Bilor (20371) 2006-11-25 5:30

Hello Paolo
Great idea of such a composition. Lovely colours and the plane bombing with the water :).
Have a nice weekend.

jinju (14265) 2006-11-25 6:47

Hey Paolo,

what an unreal blue! A beautifully balanced composition. The falling water trail is a great graphic element here.

delkoo (34726) 2006-11-25 8:24

hi paolo
water and fire are really well exprimed in your photo, by the ultra shining sun.

bon W.E
DIDIER

Ebbe (9571) 2006-11-25 8:24

For a picture of a plane shot against a blue sky this is an extraordinary composition thanks to your use of sun and action in opposite corners, the diagonal of smoke and the unusual direction of the plane which is just about to leave the frame.

anducina (8131) 2006-11-25 12:32

Excellent compo, framing and POV, interesting light. I like the blue sky, the sun and that falling plane. Very interesting.
TFS,
Andreea

carper (65598) 2006-11-25 12:45

good shot Paolo,
not easy with this backlight, a very good capture and I must say the effect is great, you did do it very well here, good job.
gr. jaap

gaby (19793) 2006-11-25 14:04

Paolo salut - c'et incroyable je reconnaitrais tes photos au milieu de TE simplement par les couleurs et la compo, c'est toujours extraordinaire chez toi -
cette photo est tout bonnement superbe et je me demande vraiment comment tu as pu prendre le soleil sans que celà influe sur la photo-
Merci et bon dimanche
Gaby

cunejo200 (7237) 2006-11-25 17:56

Hi Paolo,
A wonderful nautical composition. Effective placement of the plane. Good light. Best wishes. Danilo

tjanze (5674) 2006-11-26 1:51

Hi Paolo!
I like how you catch the sun.A little grain works good on photo.Also the diagonal plane smoke through all space.Bravo!
Regards!

Floydian (30970) 2006-11-26 7:32

Hi Paolo,
Spectacular action shot straigt in to the sun. Love the deep blue sky and the way you composed is very interesting.....good work.
Regards, Henk

Wanda1 (11015) 2006-11-26 8:05

Hi Paolo,
I like the way you have shot straight into the sun, it makes for an unusual picture. Nicely composed with the aircraft cutting accross the frame in a diagonal. Dark blue sky makes for a striking background.
Regards
Wanda

Fis2 (46341) 2006-11-26 8:26

Witaj Paolo!
Artistic photo. Very nteresting composition. Good frame and colors. Well done.
Regards
Krzysztof

fayeulle (26547) 2006-11-26 10:23

Hi Paolo
Whis this small camera you got a great shot despite the sun shining in the lens. Perfect compo
Cheers
JP

cessy (13647) 2006-11-26 14:34

wow.. fantastic shot
very nice capture of the place with the sun, Paolo
this is something we really need in Indonesia, against the fire forest

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2006-11-27 3:46

What caught my attention at this picture is the brilliance and the contrast of the colors
Achim

jrj (34779) 2006-11-27 4:29

hi paolo
You had a good capture of this plane well placed and balanced to the sun - had to be fast here ehh..
In a way it reminds me of this one:

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/France/photo451605.htm

..maybe we can make a theme of them ;-)

atus (15476) 2006-11-27 15:00

Ciao Paolo,
l'hai catturato per bene questo Canadair, resosi famoso appunto per i numerosi interventi per lo spegnimento degli incendi boschivi. La prospettiva ovviamente è di grande effetto, grazie anche alla scia creatasi dietro di esso. Nonostante la fortissima luce contraria, il colore blu del cielo è molto intenso e l'aeroplano non si è ridotto ad una semplice silhouette, ma ha dei particolari ben visibili.
Complimenti e buona serata!
Attila

riclopes (33131) 2006-11-28 3:51

Olá Paolo, this quite an original capture, with a perfect result. I love the unusual angle and the strong blue sky. The inclusion of the sun also worked well and the aircraft is sharp and clear. Impressive informative note, as well!
Ciao,
Ricardo

greg64g (11193) 2006-11-28 9:25

hi Paolo
this one is also very good to me, the superb colors and the plane are incredible
very well done
ciao
greg

balatrek (7419) 2006-12-13 13:49

Hi Paolo,

Interesting perspective, you have created an image of great visual impact, a scene that does not happen unnoticed, the composition is good and you used the light of the Sun of a very creative form, good work!

Regards
José