PB4Y Water drop...

[wingman]

Long ago...

[laminar]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

very cool

[ignomini]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

Great photos. PB4Y number 123 used to fly out of the air attack base at Santa Barbara. Never got to see it doing a drop though.

[BUD_XXX]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

My Dad flew Privateers....I wish I had seen one fly!

[BUD_XXX]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

Do you have any more Privateer photos?

[Shawn Aro]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

ok i wasnt there in 1976 but didnt they drop Red and white Blue retardent. Shawn

[wingman]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

I think what's here is about it. That was the only time I've ever seen a PB4Y fly...

Shawn -- read my old caption on the third picture.

Here's a Neptune working on a brush fire North of Reno a few years later. You can see the smoke on the lower left of the shot. Tough terrain...

[deepsky]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

Awesome photos guys! Thanks for sharing. I was 4 years old in 1976 and I have been to every race since 1977. Post some more old shots, they bring back some great memories.

[Ken from PG]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

Very nice Neal! Love the old shots. When did you adopt the "Wingman Photo" trademark?

[BuckyD]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

Thanks, Neal, for posting the marvelous B&W photo set of that patriotic red-white & blue water drop by Hawkins & Powers' Tanker #127 PB4Y-2 Privateer (N6884C) at Reno '76. That certainly was a classic Reno moment, & you captured it perfectly f/posterity w/those shots (as a 'rookie race photog' that year )

The Neptune shot over that knarly rock terrain well-illustrates the most unforgiving aspect of water-bomber duty- flying so close to the ground in tight confines. Folks need to appreciate what an incredible & heroic job these guys do for us to help fight the war against natural fire disasters. Great pics all & thanks for sharing them!

Here's a color photo I took of H&P's PB4Y-2 Tanker #123 (N7620C) - seen 5/7/90 at Ketchikan International Airport, enroute summer contract duty up at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. (This is the Privateer tragically-lost w/her crew on 7/18/02, while making a 2,000-gal. retardant drop on the Big Elk fire near Lyons, CO.).

I vaguely recall seeing at least one more PB4Y-2 demo water drop at Reno following the USA Air & Space Bicentennial event, but not positive. Sure would be nice to see a tanker demo again at the races, as it was cool as heck & the fans loved seeing it. T'was a nice way to salute our brave fire bomber crews & their long exceptional service history over the years to keep us safe. (Maybe something could be arranged while these tankers are based at Stead Field during the air races? - probably too many 'red tape' issues to make it happen, I guess...)

DBD

[RAD2LTR]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

Great shots guys. I got to see a few (3 if I remember) flying out of Porterville the summer of '96 or 97. Didn't get to see any water drops, but it was pretty cool hearing and seeing them fly over. Aren't there a few of these up at Greybull Wyoming? I seem to remember hearing they had all been grounded, but then I remember hearing something about a couple being returned to flight status.

Will

[sledge39]

Re: PB4Y Water drop...

.
...since we're on the subject of "4Ys", here's a tag-on to Neal's thread...

...front end of "Tanker 127"...made out of a T-33 canopy or (whatever ???)...



..."Tanker 123" at work...