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Tankers fought the Day Fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station for ten days, from Monday, September 18 to Wednesday September 27. Three Lockheed P-2 Neptunes and four Lockheed P-3 Orions were photographed during the period.
As of Monday, October 2, the Day fire has consumed 162,702 acres and is 92 percent contained. The fire is burning in chaparral and timber, with minimal fire behavior. Light precipitation minimized fire activity. A Sikorsky-64E helicopter accident occurred on 10/1. The pilot and co-pilot received minor injuries. No structures are threatened. Evacuation orders and most road closures have been lifted. Resources continue to be demobilized.
As of Thursday, September 28, the Day fire has consumed 159,281 acres and is 41 percent contained. This fire is 22 miles northwest of Santa Claria and is burning in chaparral and scattered timber. Structures, power and gas lines, and communication and archeological sites are threatened and evacuations are in effect. The fire is very active with crown runs in timber, backing into drainages, spotting up to ¼ mile, with several spots detected off the bluffs in the headwaters of Sisar Creek. Evacuation, road closures, and structure protection is in place in Lockwood Valley, Cuddy Valley, Vision, Chuchupate, Lake of the Woods, Pine Mountain Club, Pinon Pines, and Indian Pines.
Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 on right downwind leg to Runway 25. It was returning to Santa Barbara from Santa Maria by way of the Gaviota VOR. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 150513 in April 1963. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-5039. After transfer to the Spanish Air Force, it served as an instructional airframe at Texas State Technical College.
Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 on approach to land on Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151361 in April 1964. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-5074.
Tanker 25 scrubs its tires on Runway 25.
Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 25
Air Cargo Carriers Shorts 330, N390GA takes off from Runway 25. It was registered as G-BJFK by Short Brothers on August 27, 1981. It was delivered to Inter City Airlines on September 25, 1981. British Midland Airways leased it on October 1, 1981 and bought it on August 2, 1983. Short Brothers bought it on March 30, 1984. Air UK leased it on May 6, 1984 and returned it to Short Brothers on January 4, 1985. Spacegrand Aviation Services leased it in April 1985 and sub-leased it to Jersey European Airways on October 125, 1985. National Airways leased it on July 21, 1987. Fairflight Leasing Limited bought it on October 13, 1987. Air Europe Express leased it on April 27, 1989 and returned it to Short Brothers in January 1990. It was withdrawn from use and stored at Exeter, South Devon, UK. It has been registered to Air Cargo Carriers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin since May 19, 1998.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151387. Its construction number is 185-5100.
Tanker 22
Fedex ATR-42-300, N917FX takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 25
Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 20
Tanker 20
Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 22
Tanker 22
Tanker 22
As of Wednesday, September 27, the Day fire has consumed 144,884 acres and is 42 percent contained. This fire is 22 miles northwest of Santa Claria and is burning in chaparral and scattered timber. Structures, power and gas lines, and communication and archeological sites are threatened and evacuations are in effect. Fire behavior included rapid rates of spread, runs, spotting, and backing fire. The fire jumped Lockwood Valley Road, east of Lockwood Flats. Evacuation of Lockwood Valley is ongoing. Five non-residential structures were lost.
Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Tanker 20
Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 takes off from Runway 25.
It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151385 in September 1964. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-6098.
Tanker 20 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Tanker 20 scrubs its tires on Runway 25.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Tanker 21 scrubs its tires on Runway 25.
Air Cargo Carriers Shorts 330, N390GA takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 20
Santa Barbara Airport Fire Truck F82 begins its take-off roll on Runway 25.
Clay Lacy Aviation Learjet 35A, N354CL
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Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 25
Four Aero Union Lockheed P-3 Orion tankers continued to fight the Day fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station on Thursday and Friday. As of Friday, September 22, the Day fire has consumed 107,685 acres and is 39% contained. It is 22 miles northwest of Santa Clarita, CA in timber and chaparral. An Area Command Team (Waterbury) and two Type 1 Incident Management Teams (Pincha-Tulley and Dietrich) are assigned to this incident. The fire grew to the north, with significant potential for rapid growth on the southwest, threatening the communities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, Rose Valley, Upper Ojai and Ojai this weekend. Precautionary evacuations have started in upper Santa Paula; Fillmore; Ojai and Upper Ojai in anticipation of Santa Ana winds. Threats are to communities, communications infrastructure, municipal watersheds and electrical facilities.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 07.
Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 lands on Runway 07.
Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 taxies off of Runway 07.
Tanker 20
Tanker 25
Tanker 25
Tanker 22
Tanker 22
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 takes off from Runway 07.
Tanker 21
On Wednesday, September 20, Lockheed P-3A Orion Tankers 22, 22, and 25 continued to fight the Day fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station. P-3A Orion Tanker 21 was out of the rotation for the day. As of September 20 the Day fire has burned 93,339 acres and is 20% contained with no estimate of the date of containment.
Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 takes off from Runway 07.
Tanker 25
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 taxis into the air attack station.
Tanker 22
Tanker 22 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 25
Tanker 25
Cessna 208B Caravan, N208EB takes off from Runway 25.
Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 takes off from Runway 25.
Tanker 20
Tanker 20
Tanker 22
Tanker 22
Tanker 20
Tanker 20 lands on Runway 25 as Tanker 25 taxis out.
Tanker 25
Tanker 25
Tanker 22
Tanker 20
Tanker 22
Tanker 25
On Tuesday, September 19, Lockheed P-3A Orion Tanker 21 continued to fight the Day fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station. It was joined by P-3A Orion Tanker 22, and three Lockheed P2V Neptune tankers; 09, 12, and 44. As of September 19 the Day fire is 20% contained with no estimate of the date of containment.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21 at the air attack station on Tuesday September 19. Tanker 21 was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 151385 in September 1964. Its Lockheed construction number is 185-6098.
Tanker 21
Dassault-Breguet Falcon 900, N914DD on approach to land on Runway 25. The certification date of this Falcon is July 5, 2006. It is making its first flights following the installation of its interior fittings.
Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune, N96264 Tanker 12 was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 128346. Its construction number is 426-5192.
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Tanker 12
Tanker 22
Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, N1386C Tanker 44 on approach to land on Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as BuNo 128422 in 1951. Its construction number is 426-5268.
Tanker 44
Tanker 12
Tanker 22
Neptune Aviation Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, N4235T Tanker 09 takes off from Runway 25. It was delivered to the U.S. Navy as P2V-7S BuNo 150282. Its construction number is 726-7285.
Tanker 21
Tanker 22
Tanker 09
Pete Dobbins used the image above as the basis for this painting of Tanker 09.
Tanker 21
Tanker 22
Tanker 09
Tanker 21
Tanker 21
Tanker 44
Tanker 21
Tanker 44
Tanker 44
The display of pictures from Monday, September 18 continues below
You can buy a 2009 calendar featuring my photographs of Day Fire Tankers at Santa Barbara.
Aerial tankers fought the Day Fire from the Santa Barbara Air Attack Station for ten days, from Monday, September 18 to Wednesday September 27. Three Lockheed P-2 Neptunes and four Lockheed P-3 Orions visited the Air Attack Station during the fire. This calendar includes a dozen photos of those tankers:
Neptune Aviation Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, N4235T Tanker 09
Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune, N96264 Tanker 12
Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, N1386C Tanker 44
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N921AU Tanker 21
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-45 Orion, N922AU Tanker 22
Aero Union Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25
Put a copy of the Day Fire Tankers at Santa Barbara: 2009 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart.
As of September 18 the National Incident Information Center describes the Day Fire:
Day is 22 miles northwest of Santa Clarita, CA in timber and chaparral. A Type 1 Incident Management Team (Pincha-Tulley) is assigned. Santa Ana winds caused significant growth and evacuation recommendations in Filmore, Upper Ojai, and Santa Paula. Threats are to communities and critical infrastructure including communications, municipal watersheds and electrical facilities. Condor habitat is also endangered. Smoke and ash are problematic. Hotter and dry temps and single digit humidities are predicted for the several days. Sespe Wilderness user evacuations were conducted by air.
Lockheed P-3A-25 Orion, N920AU Tanker 20 landing on Runway 25.
Tanker 20 taxies out to Runway 25.
Tanker 20
Tanker 21 on approach to land on Runway 25.
Tanker 21 touches down on Runway 25.
Lockheed P-3A-40 Orion, N925AU Tanker 25 landing on Runway 25.
Tanker 25 rolls out on Runway 25 as Tanker 21 takes on a load of PhosChek.
Sikorsky HH-60H Seahawk BuNo 164855, 101 of HSL-49 Scorpions based at NAS North Island on approach to land.
Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk BuNo 162330, 103 of HSL-49 on approach to land.
Tanker 21
Tanker 21
Tanker 25
Tanker 20 makes a low approach to Runway 25
Tanker 21 departs from Runway 25.
Tanker 21 turns toward the shoreline.
Tanker 21 returns from its last mission of the day.
Aerial tankers
The P-3 Orion Research Group, based in the Netherlands, has a P-3A Orion Aircraft Location Report.
The National Interagency Fire Center.
The National Incident Information Center.
The SSD Fire Detection Program.
Wildlandfire.com's Air Tankers Photo page..
Send a message to Brian.
