Fire watch cobra

[02350FC]

What are the capabilities and stats on this fire watch cobra I keep hearing about? Anyone have any pictures?

[RomeoCharlie]

http://www.firewatchcobra.com/
http://www.firewatchcobra.com/specs.html

[Wandering Fed]

Supposedly it was dropping ping pong balls during firing ops on the Mill fire. First I've heard of it doing that, usually it is an Air Attack and IR platform.

[Eng1inE]

The rotor wing I saw doing the aerial ignition on the Mill Incident was a Bell 205 UH Huey. The Fire Cobra was flying during the firing op, but it was working as Mill AA. I could be wrong, but that what I believe was was occurring.

[MLJ]

yes, the one out of Redding, Firewatch 14, usually is Air Attack or flying IR mapping. It has a van that can follow it to a fire with real time video and IR for an IC to use, and has a lot of other high-tech uses. Very useful ship. I hear there's second one out of Boise now, but can't confirm it..

[LTP]

The Cobra can be used for many things, but dropping ping pongs is not something I see it even being capable of.
There are some Cobras that the State of Washington uses that have the ability to carry a bucket and make drops, but I have never seen one of the two USFS ships do that.

The USFS ships primary role is as an IR platform and/or as an Air Attack. I have seen them act as a HELCO on occasions.

[tcj]

The Cobras are not used with a bucket any longer. The Washington DNR retired theirs last year. I loved watching the Cobras fly over my house and miss them alot.

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEduc...ghting_nr.aspx
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2011

Agency improves firefighting while saving money
Cost study spurs improvements for DNR’s firefighting helicopters

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making improvements to its wildland firefighting helicopter program that are estimated to save taxpayers at least $300,000 annually, following the recommendations of a recently completed legislative audit.

DNR will retire four AH-1 “Cobra” helicopters from duty and has secured federal funding to replace them with two of the more common UH-1H “Huey” models at no cost to the state. The move transitions DNR’s helicopter fleet to all “Huey” models and reduces the total number of helicopters from eight to six....

More at the link

[Wandering Fed]

I read the comment about dropping balls on one of the Mill fire posts, probably just confusion by the poster or reader (me) between its role in the operation.

[02350FC]

Thanks guys I love the air program and just haven't been able to see the fire watch. Sounds like a sweet tool.