December 21, 2024 - Saturday - Today we had a spur of the moment, unplanned, adventure. Our neighbor Kim's brother is an aerial firefighter with Neptune Aviation Services, and he has graciously invited us for a tour of his base. San Bernardino International Airport has been home to the San Bernardino National Forest Airtanker Base for the past 27 years. Back in 1997, the US Forest Service acquired 20 acres to build the airtanker base from the Department of Defense after Norton Air Force Base was decommissioned. The base serves as the backbone of aviation firefighting for the US Forest Service in southern California providing support for airtankers and helicopters during fire season each year.
Jerome's plane is a retired British Aerospace 146.
The aircraft can hold 3,000 gallons of the fire retardant Phos-Check.
There are two pilots flying the plane. When they drop the Phos-Check, it comes out of these openings in the bottom of the plane.
The ladder to get inside was a little bit of a challenge for Judy, but she made it!
It was interesting to see a bare bones airplane on the inside, except for the 3,000 gallon tank.
Not all of the controls are hydraulic, as seen by the overhead cables.
This is the computer that controls the mixing of the Phos-Check with water and calculates the valve openings for a narrow or wide drop.
Neptune Aviation has offices and storage tanks for their fire retardant at this site.
Each of the tanks holds 24,000 gallons of fire retardant.
What an exciting and dangerous operation.
Here's Jerome and Judy. Thanks for a great tour Jerome!
After the tour, we had lunch at the Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino.
Judy had their "Huevos Rancheros."
I had their "Chili Rellenos."
It was a fantastic adventure.