smokejumper wrote:This something that the US Forest Service should consider ........ Sad.
Sad indeed.
Even our European country's were late to invest in fire-fighting planes: only after several successive years of fire-disasters firm decisions to buy good planes are made now.
Curious how Russia is the only country developping dedicated fire-fighting planes and helicopters. They did this in a time when their economy nearly collapsed and they engaged in European cooperation in order to produce the badly needed planes.
Indeed, Russians need firefighting planes badly because of the huge bushfires they have every year in their vast territories(Siberia).
Last year there was almost a riot in the Duma (Russian parliament) because of the two first serial build Be-200's were leased to Italy and Spain instead of firefighting at home.
Also the cold-war spirit is still around and pressure was applied to hold of the Russians and their material.
But now, finally, common sense prevails and also the opportunities for the European aviation-industry contribute to the purchases.
Portugal already bought Kamov-32 firefighting helicopters, now some Be-200's. That big order from Greece will help to convince other country's like France and Spain to do the same.
Another fact: It are the gouvernments who are ordering this planes, not companies. Governments need good quality for their investements. Private companies are more interested in profits.