10tanker doing a drop but not yet headed to Oz

[markis10]

Impressive and very low, glad they are back in action.

562K views · 42K reactions | Not something you see everyday. Second time in my life and still amazing. Watching that big boy pull up after the dump was so impressive. #wildfire #airtanker Daily Aviation Content & News Aviation Daily | Freedomchariot

Not something you see everyday. Second time in my life and still amazing. Watching that big boy pull up after the dump was so impressive. #wildfire #airtanker Daily Aviation Content & News Aviation Daily

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This year is looking like a shocker, at this stage only 4 LATs and no VLATs (very large aerial tanker) contracted. McDermott still have yet to see their unique Transalls get approved:

Aircraft contracted to NAFC on behalf of the States and Territories for the 2026/2027 season, as at 7 August 2026.

Airframe Type Aircraft Type Primary Service Role Operator Nominated Operational Base
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Port Lincoln, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Hoyleton, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Hoyleton, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Mt Gambier, SA
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Port Lincoln, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Port Lincoln, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Mt Gambier, SA
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Hoyleton, SA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aerotech First Response Hoyleton, SA
Cessna 208B Caravan FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
Cessna 208B Caravan FW - Recce Air Observation Aerotech First Response Claremont, SA
UH-60L Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Albury, VIC (National)
UH-60L Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Parafield, SA (National)
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Claremont, SA
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Claremont, SA
Airbus AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Batchelor, NT
Eurocopter AS 350 BA RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Aerotech Helicopters Batchelor, NT
Airbus AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Aerotech Helicopters Hoyleton, SA
Eurocopter AS 350 BA RW - T3 Air Observation Aerotech Helicopters Hoyleton, SA
Eurocopter EC 130 B4 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Aerotech Helicopters Claremont, SA
Eurocopter EC 135 P2+ RW - T3 Intelligence Gathering Aerotech Helicopters Claremont, SA
Airbus AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Claremont, SA
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Bundaberg, QLD
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Port Lincoln, SA
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing Aerotech Helicopters Mt Gambier, SA
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aircair Aviation Beela Moree, NSW
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Aircair Aviation Krui Moree, NSW
Pilatus Britten-Norman Ltd BN2B-26 FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Alpine Airworks Bairnsdale, VIC
PZL Warszawa-Okecie M-18T FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Alpine Airworks Benambra, VIC
PZL Warszawa-Okecie M-18T FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Alpine Airworks Benambra, VIC
Eads Socata TBM700B FW - LAT AAS Air Attack Supervision Black Edge Aviation Bundaberg, QLD
Eads Socata TBM700B FW - LAT AAS Air Attack Supervision Black Edge Aviation Avalon, VIC
Pilatus PC12/47E FW - LAT AAS Air Attack Supervision Black Edge Aviation Busselton, WA
C130 Hercules FW - LAT Firebombing Coulson Aviation Richmond, NSW (National)
Cessna Citation 560 FW - LAT AAS Air Attack Supervision Coulson Aviation Richmond, NSW (National)
C130Q Hercules FW - LAT Firebombing Coulson Aviation Richmond, NSW
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Dunn Aviation Albany, WA
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Dunn Aviation Albany, WA
Aerospatiale AS 350 B2 RW - T3 Intelligence Gathering Executive Helicopters Toowoomba, QLD
Eurocopter AS 350 B2 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Executive Helicopters Toowoomba, QLD
Eurocopter EC 130 B4 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Executive Helicopters Bundaberg, QLD
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Hamilton, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Hamilton, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Horsham, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Horsham, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Ouyen, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Ouyen, VIC
Bombardier Q400AT FW - LAT Firebombing Field Air Bundaberg, QLD
Bombardier Q400AT FW - LAT Firebombing Field Air Avalon, VIC
British Aerospace RJ85 FW - LAT Firebombing Field Air Dubbo, NSW
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Cambridge, TAS
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Field Air Cambridge, TAS
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Field Air Cambridge, TAS
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Field Air Cambridge, TAS
Bombardier Q400AT FW - LAT Firebombing Field Air Avalon, Vic
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Fred Fahey Cowra, NSW
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Fred Fahey Cowra, NSW
Airbus AS 350 B2 RW - T3 Firebombing Helicopter Resources Launceston, TAS
Eurocopter AS 350 B2 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Helifarm Mt Gambier, SA
Eurocopter AS 350 BA RW - T3 Air Observation Helifarm Mt Gambier, SA
Eurocopter AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Firebombing Heli-Muster Batchelor, NT
Kawasaki BK117 B-2 RW - T2 Winching Helitreck Cambridge, TAS
Aero Commander 500S FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Kennedy Air Toowoomba, QLD
Aero Commander 500S FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Kennedy Air Cambridge, TAS
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Kennedy Air Watts Bridge, QLD
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Kennedy Air Watts Bridge, QLD
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Kennedy Air Cambridge, TAS
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Kennedy Air Cambridge, TAS
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Kennedy Air Gunnedah, NSW
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Kennedy Air Gunnedah, NSW
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Kennedy Air Wagga Wagga, NSW
Bell 412 EP RW - T2 Firebombing Kestrel Aviation Hume, ACT
Bell 412 EP RW - T2 Firebombing Kestrel Aviation Hume, ACT
Bell 214 ST RW - T1 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Cooroy, Qld (National)
Aerospatiale AS 355 F1 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Toowoomba, QLD
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Toowoomba, QLD
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Cambridge, TAS
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Cambridge, TAS
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Launceston, TAS
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Launceston, TAS
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Busselton, WA
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Busselton, WA
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Bell 214 B-1 RW - T2 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Eurocopter AS 365 N3 RW - T3 Air Observation McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Eurocopter AS 365 N3 RW - T3 Intelligence Gathering McDermott Aviation Jandakot, WA
Aerospatiale AS 255.1 RW - T3 Firebombing McDermott Aviation Cambridge, TAS
Pilatus Aircraft PC12/47E FW - Linescan Intelligence Gathering Microflite Moorabbin, VIC
Pilatus Aircraft PC12/47E FW - Linescan Intelligence Gathering Microflite Bundaberg, QLD
Airbus AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Intelligence Gathering Microflite Cambridge, TAS
Pilatus Aircraft PC12/47E FW - Linescan Intelligence Gathering Microflite Moorabbin, VIC
Pilatus Aircraft PC12 NG FW - Linescan LA-ISR Operations Microflite Jandakot, WA
Airbus AS 350 B3E RW - T3 Intelligence Gathering Microflite Hume, ACT
Eurocopter AS 355 NP RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision Microflite Moorabbin, VIC
British Aerospace 146-200A FW - LAT Firebombing Neptune Aviation Busselton, WA
Cessna 337G FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Pay's Air Charter Stawell, VIC
Cessna 208 B Caravan FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Pay's Air Charter Albury, NSW
Cessna 208 B Caravan FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Pay's Air Charter Hamilton, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Casterton, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Casterton, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Nhill, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Nhill, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Stawell, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Stawell, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Pay's Air Service Mansfield, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FIREBOSS FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Pay's Air Service Albury, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FIREBOSS FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Pay's Air Service Bairnsdale, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FIREBOSS FW - T4 - SEAT FireB Firebombing Pay's Air Service Bairnsdale, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Precision Meandarra Toowoomba, QLD
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Precision Meandarra Toowoomba, QLD
Aero Commander 500S FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Ramair Flying Services Mildura, VIC
Aero Commander 500S FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Ramair Flying Services Sea Lake, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing Skycroppers Griffith, NSW
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing United Aero Serpentine, WA
UH-60A Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing United Aero Serpentine, WA
UH-60L Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing United Aero Gingin, WA
UH-60L Blackhawk RW - T1 Firebombing United Aero Gingin, WA
Airbus AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision United Aero Latrobe Valley, VIC
Eurocopter AS 350 B3 RW - T2 Firebombing United Aero Camden, NSW
Aerospatiale AS 350 BA RW - T3 Air Observation United Aero Port Lincoln, SA
Eurocopter AS 350 B3 RW - T3 Air Attack Supervision United Aero Port Lincoln, SA
Cessna 208B Caravan FW - Recce Air Attack Supervision Wrightsair Horsham, VIC
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing XO Aviation P/L Batchelor, NT
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing XO Aviation P/L Batchelor, NT
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing XO Aviation P/L Batchelor, NT
Air Tractor AT-802 FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing XO Aviation P/L Batchelor, NT
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing XO Aviation P/L Batchelor, NT
Air Tractor AT-802A FW - T4 - SEAT Firebombing XO Aviation P/L Batchelor, NT

It’s been forgotten by most but the NSCA pioneered the national firefighting fleet in the mid eighties in a format very similar to today, shipping resources to Canada for their season when they were not needed here.

 

[markis10]

This video from Coulson is a good example of a lat in operation in conjunction with a bulldog (air attack supervisor) marking the line for the herc. It also shows how busy the fire ground gets with another LAT in the background, looks like an RJ85

1.4M views · 15K reactions | Lead plane marks the line. Tanker 136 delivers. A beautifully executed drop exactly where it was called, showing the coordination between lead aircraft and airtanker that makes this work effective. Thank you to Ipek Dol

Lead plane marks the line. Tanker 136 delivers. A beautifully executed drop exactly where it was called, showing the coordination between lead aircraft and airtanker that makes this work effective....

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