Firefighting Planes

[Brett327]

Pretty cool. The Ruskies always did like putting their engines in unconventional places. Looks like it paid off on this model.

Brett

 

[Uncle Fester]

In which bizarro parallel universe does that world exist? They're not terribly efficient and I can't imagine a tactical reason to justify having something like that around.

It'd be damn useful for SAR (which is what the Japanese use it for). Long range, and then plonk down next to the rescuee as opposed to dropping him a liferaft and radio and hoping a ship can get to him soon. You also hear every so often about a medical emergency way the hell out at sea, and the ANG goes out and parachutes some PJs in to stabilize the patient until they can get into helo range...seems like just going out in a flying boat and picking him up would be easier.

I figure if the Coasties can buy French jets and helos, why not a Japanese amphib?

[/threadjack]

 

[SteveG75]

Yeah, Iv'e seen that abomination flying around Iwakuni. I meant jets though, as opposed to turboprops.

Brett

How about two US Navy jet powered seaplanes?

Martin P6M Seamaster (circa 1959)

Convair Sea Dart (cirac 1957)

Brits also had the Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 (1947-1951):

 

[eddie]

In which bizarro parallel universe does that world exist? They're not terribly efficient and I can't imagine a tactical reason to justify having something like that around. Interesting side note - I wonder if there are any turbine powered float planes.

Brett

I suppose my thinking was something like, if a PBY carried depth charges, why couldn't a P-3-ish thing have floats.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Nice, floats and swept wings.....that must have been fun

 

[HercDriver]

It'd be damn useful for SAR (which is what the Japanese use it for). Long range, and then plonk down next to the rescuee as opposed to dropping him a liferaft and radio and hoping a ship can get to him soon. You also hear every so often about a medical emergency way the hell out at sea, and the ANG goes out and parachutes some PJs in to stabilize the patient until they can get into helo range...seems like just going out in a flying boat and picking him up would be easier.

I figure if the Coasties can buy French jets and helos, why not a Japanese amphib?

[/threadjack]

Well we have used many seaplanes in the past (the final was the HU-16E Albatross, last flown in 1983). Though float planes are really cool they have their limitations; specifically in the seas they can land on and take off in, (especially if they have floats hanging from the wings), and in the range. Most SAR happens in shitty weather/heavier seas and it would be tough to put down to do a rescue and take a wave in one of the float; it would end badly.

Also, it would be difficult to justify the costs; we have aircraft that will do long/medium range SAR right now, and how many rescues of people do we do long-range that need immediate medical assistance? The long-range, 1000nm+ rescues I've flown on involve me getting on scene and dropping a raft/pump/radio and then vectoring in an AMVER merchant vessel to pick them up.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool; just the few times it could be used wouldn't justify the costs to the bean counters.

 

[Brett327]

Well we have used many seaplanes in the past (the final was the HU-16E Albatross, last flown in 1983). Though float planes are really cool they have their limitations; specifically in the seas they can land on and take off in, (especially if they have floats hanging from the wings), and in the range. Most SAR happens in shitty weather/heavier seas and it would be tough to put down to do a rescue and take a wave in one of the float; it would end badly.

Also, it would be difficult to justify the costs; we have aircraft that will do long/medium range SAR right now, and how many rescues of people do we do long-range that need immediate medical assistance? The long-range, 1000nm+ rescues I've flown on involve me getting on scene and dropping a raft/pump/radio and then vectoring in an AMVER merchant vessel to pick them up.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool; just the few times it could be used wouldn't justify the costs to the bean counters.

Pretty much what I was thinking.

@ Eddie: In the current climate, there just isn't room in the budget for niche aircraft like this would obviously be. Jack of all trades (master of none) is just the way it is.

Brett

 

[Flash]

It'd be damn useful for SAR (which is what the Japanese use it for).

I figure if the Coasties can buy French jets and helos, why not a Japanese amphib?

Also, it would be difficult to justify the costs; we have aircraft that will do long/medium range SAR right now......just the few times it could be used wouldn't justify the costs to the bean counters.

The Japanese are very fond of 'make work' projects for their domestic industries, to include their aerospace industry. That is a large part, probably the primary one, why they have bought things like the F-2 when they could have bought the latest F-16C/D/E/F Block XX for much less of the cost and why they are developing the XP-1 instead of buying P-8J's.

The very low rate of production of the US-1/US-2's and the limited number they have in service lends credence to the assumption that the cost is probably not worth it in the end for anyone but the Japanese. It is a very impressive airplane and would make a very good aerial tanker, they are marketing a proposed versionm of the US-2 as capable of that, but it would probably be way too expensive to be practical as one. It is not like there is a big market for them anyways, the only purpose-built aerial tanker is the CL-215/415, all the rest are conversions/modifications of other designs.