Canadair CL-415
An amphibious water bomber designed to refill its tanks without landing.
Overview
The CL-415 is an amphibious aircraft designed for fighting forest fires. Its distinguishing feature is scooping water in low flight across a lake or the sea: the aircraft does not stop, it only touches.
That shortens the response cycle. When a body of water lies near the fire, the need to return to base disappears and far more sorties become possible in the same time.
Flying low among thermals and broken terrain makes this one of aviation's hardest missions. The aircraft's ruggedness is designed to withstand those conditions rather than to provide comfort.
Details
- Brand
- De Havilland Canada
- Category
- Water Bomber
- Body
- Amphibious water bomber
- Propulsion
- turboprop
- Produced
- 1994–