| NO. | OWNER/OPERATOR | AC TYPE | Registration | C/n | Remarks | PHOTO |
| 00 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N900AU | 5104 | PHOTO | |
| 01 | Aero Union Corp | SP-2H | N701AU | 726-7190 | PHOTO | |
| 02 | Aero Union Corp | C-54A | N11712 | 3088; became C-FBAJ | PHOTO | |
| 03 | Aero Union Corp | - | - | not assigned | NO PHOTO | |
| 04 | Neptune, Inc | - | - | not assigned | NO PHOTO | |
| 05 | Neptune, Inc | P-2E | N96278 | 426-5340 | PHOTO , 2, 3 | |
| 06 | Neptune, Inc | P-2E | N9855F | 426-5326 | PHOTO | |
| 07 | Neptune, Inc | P-2E | N807NA | 426-5305 | Ex/N1386K | PHOTO |
| 09 | Neptune, Inc | P-2H | N4235T | 726-7285 | Crashed 01Sep08 | PHOTO |
| 10 | Neptune, Inc | P-2H | N4235N | 726-7158 | PHOTO | |
| 11 | Neptune, Inc | P-2H | N14447 | 826-8010 | PHOTO | |
| 12 | Neptune, Inc | P-2H | N96264 | 426-5192 | PHOTO | |
| 13 | Aero Union Corp | C-54D | N62342 | 10613; became C-FBAK | PHOTO | |
| 14 | Aero Union Corp | C-54E | N62297 | 27328 | PHOTO | |
| 15 | Aero Union Corp | C-54G | N2742G | 36089 | PHOTO | |
| 16 | Aero Union Corp | SP-2H | N716AU | 726-7065 | PHOTO | |
| 17 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N917AU | 5036 | PHOTO | |
| 18 | Aero Union Corp | SP-2H | N718AU | 726-7214 | PHOTO | |
| 20 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N920AU | 5039 | PHOTO | |
| 21 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N921AU | 5098 | PHOTO | |
| 22 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N922AU | 5100 | PHOTO | |
| 23 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N923AU | 5085 | PHOTO | |
| 25 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N925AU | 5074 | PHOTO | |
| 26 | Aero Union Corp | P-3B | N926AU | 5171; cr. 20Apr05 | PHOTO | |
| 27 | Aero Union Corp | P-3A | N927AU | 5082 | PHOTO | |
| 30 | International Air Response, Inc. | C-130A | N116TG | 3086; cr. 06Sep00 | Crash report on ASN | PHOTO |
| 31 | International Air Response, Inc. | C-130A | N117TG | 3018 | PHOTO | |
| 32 | International Air Response, Inc. | C-130 | N118TG | 3219 | PHOTO | |
| 33 | International Air Response, Inc. | DC-7B | N4887C | 45351 | PHOTO | |
| 37 | Hirth Air Tankers | PV-2 | N7458C | 15-1200; stored | PHOTO | |
| 38 | Hirth Air Tankers | PV-2 | N6856C | 15-1156; cr. 20Apr97 | PHOTO | |
| 39 | Hirth Air Tankers | PV-2 | N7080C | 15-1465; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 42 | Neptune Inc | P-2H | N442NA | 7286 | Ex Bu 150283, N712AU crashed 25Apr09 |
PHOTO |
| 43 | Neptune Inc | P-2H | N443NA | 7168 | Ex H&P, T139 | PHOTO |
| 44 | Neptune, Inc | P-2E | N1386C | 426-5268 | PHOTO | |
| 45 | Neptune Inc | P-2H | N445NA | 7102 | Ex H&P, T140. In 2006 it was allocated T45. |
PHOTO |
| 48 | Minden Air | SP-2H | N4692A | 726-7247 | PHOTO | |
| 49 | SLAFCO Inc | PBY-6A | N2886D | 2104 | PHOTO | |
| 53 | SLAFCO Inc | PBY-5A | N9505C | 34027 | PHOTO | |
| 55 | Minden Air Inc | P-2V | N355MA | 726-7229 | PHOTO | |
| 60 | TBM, Inc | DC-7B | N838D | 45347 | PHOTO | |
| 62 | TBM, Inc | DC-7 | N401US | 45145 | PHOTO | |
| 63 | TBM, Inc | C-130A | N473TM | 3081 | PHOTO | |
| 64 | TBM, Inc | C-130A | N466TM | 3173 | PHOTO | |
| 65 | TBM, Inc | C-54E | N8502R | 27367 | Ferried 02Aug08 to Fairbanks for Brooks | PHOTO |
| 66 | TBM, Inc | DC-7 | N6353C | 45486 | PHOTO | |
| 67 | TBM, Inc | C-130A | N531BA | 3139 | PHOTO | |
| 68 | TBM, Inc | DC-6 | N90739 | 43044 | Up for scrapping, 2007 | PHOTO |
| 70 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N427DF | 326C | PHOTO | |
| 71 | CDF | S-2A | N443DF | 195 | replaced | PHOTO |
| 71 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N432DF | 112C | PHOTO | |
| 72 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N435DF | 329C | PHOTO | |
| 73 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N437DF | 123C | PHOTO | |
| 74 | CDF | S-2A | N411DF | 476 | Wheels up landing 20Jul01, preserved Paso Robles museum |
PHOTO |
| 74 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N439DF | 129C | PHOTO | |
| 75 | CDF | S-2 | N420DF | 388 | replaced;fate? | PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 |
| 75 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N444DF | 187C | PHOTO | |
| 76 | CDF | S-2 | N417DF | 061 | PHOTO | |
| 77 | CDF | S-2 | N423DF | 246 | PHOTO | |
| 78 | CDF | S-2 | N412DF | 222 | PHOTO | |
| 79 | CDF | S-2 | c/n??? | PHOTO AND REG ?? | ||
| 80 | CDF | S-2A | N404DF | 455 | PHOTO | |
| 81 | CDF | S-2A | N447DF | 417 | PHOTO | |
| 82 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N422DF | 286C | PHOTO | |
| 83 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N424DF | 289C | PHOTO | |
| 84 | CDF | S-2A | N443DF | 195 | PHOTO | |
| 85 | Flying Firemen | PBY-5A | N85U | 64041 | PHOTO | |
| 86 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N433DF | 0865-011/? | PHOTO | |
| 88 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N426DF | 293C | PHOTO | |
| 89 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N425DF | 294C | PHOTO | |
| 90 | CDF | S-2A | N450DF | 421; cr 27Aug01 | PHOTO | |
| 90 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N434DF | 0382-034/? | PHOTO | |
| 91 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N428DF | 137C | PHOTO | |
| 92 | CDF | S-2A | N428DF | 255 | crashed 27Aug01 | PHOTO |
| 93 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N450DF (2) | 228C | PHOTO | |
| 94 | CDF | S-2A | N404DF | 175 | preserved @Weed Apr,CA since Aug05 | PHOTO |
| 94 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N442DF | 259C | PHOTO | |
| 95 | CDF | S-2A | N448DF | 684 | PHOTO | |
| 96 | CDF | S-2A | N443DF | 195 | PHOTO | |
| 97 | Hawkins & Powers | KC-97 | N1365N | 16729 | PHOTO | |
| 98 | SLAFCO | PBY-5A | N31235 | 1788 | PHOTO | |
| 99 | Minden Air Inc | P-2H | N299MA | 726-7211; cr. 03Oct03 | PHOTO | |
| 100 | CDF | S-2A | N436DF | 445 | PHOTO | |
| 100 | Cal Fire | S-2T | N441DF | 277c | ex/ S-2G 152808 | PHOTO |
| 102 | Central Air Service | C-54E | N816D | 27376 | PHOTO | |
| 105 | Central Air Service | C-54D | N96454 | 10864 | PHOTO | |
| 109 | Central Air Service | C-54D | N6816D | 27368 | PHOTO | |
| 111 | Central Air Service | C-54E | N96541 | ???? | PHOTO REQUIRED | |
| 115 | Airborne Fire Attack | PBY-6A | N324FA | 2162 | PHOTO | |
| 117 | Central Air Service | DC-4 | N31356 | 42914; sold | PHOTO | |
| 119 | ARDCO | C-54G | N406WA | 35944; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 121 | Hawkins & Powers | PB4Y-2 | N2871G | 66302; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 123 | Hawkins & Powers | PB4Y-2 | N7620C | 66260; cr. 18Jul02 | PHOTO | |
| 124 | Hawkins & Powers | PB4Y-2 | N2872G | 66300; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 126 | Hawkins & Powers | PB4Y-2 | N7962C | 59882; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 127 | Hawkins & Powers | PB4Y-2 | N6884C | 59701; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 131 | Hawkins & Powers | C-130A | N131HP | 3142 | PHOTO | |
| 133 | Hawkins & Powers | C-130A | N133HP | 3189 | PHOTO | |
| 134 | Hawkins & Powers | C-130A | - | - | NO PHOTO | |
| 138 | Hawkins & Powers | P-2T | N138HP | 7223; turbo conversion not completed | PHOTO | |
| 139 | Hawkins & Powers | P-2H | N139HP | 7168 | To Neptune Inc, 2006, became T43 |
PHOTO |
| 140 | Hawkins & Powers | P-2H | N140HP | 7102 | To Neptune Inc, 2006, became T45 |
PHOTO |
| 141 | Evergreen Helicopters | P2V-5 | N202EV | 526-5383 | PHOTO | |
| 142 | Evergreen Helicopters | P2V-5 | N203EV | 5228 | To Neptune Inc, 2011 |
PHOTO |
| 143 | Evergreen Helicopters | P2V-5 | N204EV | ????; not tanked? | ex BuN.: 128378 | PHOTO AVAILABLE? |
| 144 | Evergreen Helicopters | P2V-5 | N205EV | 5212;not tanked ? | - | |
| 145 | Evergreen Helicopters | P2V-5 | N206EV | 5367 | To Neptune Inc, 2011 |
PHOTO |
| 146 | Central Air Service | C-54E | N67061 | 10560 | PHOTO | |
| 147 | Central Air Service | C-54D | N67040 | 27232 | PHOTO | |
| 148 | Central Air Service | C-54E | N67062 | 10741 | PHOTO | |
| 149 | Central Air Service | C-54D | N67041 | 10665; not tanked | PHOTO AVAILABLE ? | |
| 150 | Central Air Service | C-54D | N67034 | 22202 | PHOTO | |
| 151 | ARDCO | C-54E | N460WA | 27359 | PHOTO | |
| 152 | ARDCO | C-54D | N9015Q | 22178 | PHOTO | |
| 154 | Marsh Aviation | S-2.. | N736MA | 645 | PHOTO | |
| 155 | Marsh Aviation | S-2T | N746MA | 655 | PHOTO | |
| 158 | SLAFCO | PBY-6A | N9825Z | 2177; for sale | PHOTO | |
| 160 | Aero Flite | C-54E | N96358 | 27284 | PHOTO | |
| 161 | Aero Flite | C-54G | N82FA | 35960 | PHOTO | |
| 166 | Hemet Valley Flying Srvc | C-54G | N90203 | 35934 | PHOTO | |
| 215 | North Carolina | CL-215 | N215NC | ???? | PHOTO | |
| 262 | Aero Flite | CL-215 | N262NR | 1081 | Opb Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources | PHOTO |
| 263 | Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources | CL-215 | N263NR | 1082 | PHOTO | |
| 266 | Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources |
CL-215 | N266NR | 1102 | PHOTO |
Federal Air Tanker List - 2007
MY 2008 VISIT TO HEMET-RYAN TANKER BASE
| To illustrate the tie and identification of airtanker numbers and tailnumber are not always straightforward, see this email on airtanker numbers used by H&P by a former crewmember: "I have some insight on some of these aircraft, as I flew for H & P for some time. To solve the mystery of the various numbers, you will need to get with the USFS and/or USDA. For a few years, they had the practice of assigning tanker numbers. There wasn't much logic involved in these numbers. As the various operators around the country would send in the paper work to register their aircraft for the up-coming fire season it would be given a number. If it already had a number, it stayed. But if you swapped an aircraft one year that didn't have a number, they would give it a number that was not used on the list. As a result an operator might operate 6 aircraft and have tanker numbers 06, 123, 86, 29, 101, 137. If one became un-flyable before the next year, it did not pick up the number of the one it replaced. It might be 22, or any other of number you can think of. In the case of N-numbers, they have nothing to do with serial number of the aircraft and can at best possible aid you in tracking the aircraft from year to year-sadly, however, may not have anything to do with a particular aircraft. I have seen some aircraft with a different tanker number every other year. Even some had a different N number every few years... As you may have noticed, many of Gene's aircraft had N-numbers which ended in HP. At one time, he got a block of these numbers from the FAA. Those numbers were swapped around on various aircraft almost yearly! It was simply a matter a writing the FAA a letter and officially moving the 'registration number' to a different aircraft. I flew the C97 (B377), C-119 and PB4Y as well as other 'stuff' he might have around." |
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Ed Brewer sent me, alongside some photos, a request for information on Campbell Airstrip, in Anchorage, Alaska: |
John Vogel noticed my interest in vintage aircraft and airtankers, so he sent some images along. N446DF was taken at Mather Field,CA in May 1996. From my files I have that this is Grumman S-2A Tracket, c/n 175 ex/ BuNo 133204. |
Here are some more air tanker pictures, this time of N443DF (c/n 195). |
| 1. | 2. |
| 3. | 4. |
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| Top picture of Grumman S-2A N436DF (c/n 445) was taken at Rancho Murietta, California in July 91. Note that the tanker is in the old CDF yellow/green color. Below pictures of N436DF was taken at Mather in August 2007. It appears the doors in the bottom of the aircraft have been removed. The registration had been painted over. |
See also my photos of a 2008 visit to CDF airtanker base at Hemet-Ryan,CA |
www.s2ftracker.com/calfirephotos.htm
Jim Long sent this photo of a Grumman F7F Tigercat, reconfigured as an airtanker...![]()
The Grumman F7F Tigercat was the first twin-engined fighter aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed for the new Midway-class aircraft carriers, the aircraft were too large to operate from earlier decks. Although delivered to United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat units before the end of World War II, the Tigercat did not see combat service in that war. Most F7Fs ended up in land-based service, as attack aircraft or night fighters; only the later F7F-4N was certified for carrier service. They saw service in the Korean War and were withdrawn from service in 1954. |
| Jim continued with more photos... |
Information from the Goleta Air & Space Museum ('virtual'), which offers a generous selection of photos and individual B-17 tanker histories: |
|
| No. | Operator | Aircraft Type | Registration | C/n | Remarks | Photo |
| 1 | Prov of Saskatchewan | CS2F-2 | C-GEHP | DH-97 | PHOTO | |
| 2 | Prov of Saskatchewan | Conair Firecat | C-GWHK | 16 (DH-37) | PHOTO | |
| 3 | Prov of Saskatchewan | CS2F-2 | C-GEHR | DH-51 | PHOTO REQ'D | |
| 4 | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CS2F-2 | C-GEQC | DH-53 | PHOTO | |
| 5 | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CS2F-2 | C-GEQD | DH-98 | PHOTO | |
| 6 | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CS2F-3 | C-GEQE | DH-92 | PHOTO | |
| 43 | Conair | DC-6B | C-GHCB | 44893/647 | PHOTO | |
| 44 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FFKF | 179 | PHOTO | |
| 45 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FEKF | 80 | PHOTO | |
| 46 | Conair | DC-6B | C-GHLY | 45501/953 | PHOTO | |
| 47 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FKFB | 57 | PHOTO | |
| 48 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FKFY | 129 | PHOTO | |
| 49 | Conair | Convair 580 F/SCD | C-FKFL | 465 | PHOTO | |
| 50 | Conair | DC-6A | C-GKUG | 45177/859 | PHOTO | |
| 51 | Conair | DC-6A/C | C-GIBS | 45531/1015 | PHOTO | |
| 52 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FKFA | 100 | PHOTO | |
| 53 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-GKFO | 78 | PHOTO ? | |
| 54 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FKFM | 70 | PHOTO | |
| 55 | Conair | Convair 580 | C-FHKF | 374 | PHOTO ? | |
| 63 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-GWUO | 003 | PHOTO ? | |
| 64 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-FOPU | 007 | PHOTO ? | |
| 66 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-FOPV | 006 | PHOTO ? | |
| 67 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-GABC | 011 | PHOTO ? | |
| 68 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-GWUP | 012 | PHOTO | |
| 69 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-FOPY | 019 | PHOTO | |
| 70 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-GYQI | 030 | PHOTO | |
| 71 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-GHPJ | 022 | PHOTO | |
| 73 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-GHDY | 029 | PHOTO | |
| 74 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-FEFK | 014 | PHOTO | |
| 75 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-FEFX | 031 | PHOTO | |
| 76 | Conair | Conair Firecat | C-FJOH | 034 | PHOTO | |
| 201 | Conair | CL-215-1A10 | C-GFSK | 1085 | PHOTO | |
| 202 | Conair | CL-215-1A10 | C-GFSL | 1086 | PHOTO ? | |
| 203 | Conair | CL-215-1A10 | C-GFSM | 1098 | PHOTO ?- | |
| 204 | Conair | CL-215-1A10 | C-GFSN | 1099 | PHOTO ? | |
| 214 (35) | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CL-215-1A10 | C-FYWO | 1003 | PHOTO REQ'D | |
| 215 | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CL-215-1A10 | C-FYXG | 1009 | PHOTO | |
| 216 | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CL-215-1A10 | C-FAFN | 1093 | PHOTO REQ'D | |
| 217 | Prov.of Saskatchewan | CL-215-1A10 | C-FAFO | 1094 | PHOTO REQ'D | |
| 218 | Prov. of Saskatchewan | CL-215-1A10 | C-FAFP | 1100 | PHOTO | |
| 219 | Prov.of Saskatchewan | CL-215-1A10 | C-FAFQ | 1101 | PHOTO REQ'D | |
| 290 | Buffalo Aws | CL-215-1A10 | C-GBYU | 1083 | PHOTO | |
| 291 | Buffalo Aws | CL-215-1A10 | C-GBPD | 1084 | PHOTO | |
| 295 | Buffalo Aws | CL-215-1A10 | C-GCSX | 1088 | PHOTO | |
| 296 | Buffalo Aws | CL-215-1A10 | C-GDHN | 1089 | PHOTO | |
| 298 | Buffalo Aws | CL-215-1A10 | C-FTXB | 1007 | PHOTO | |
| 299 | Buffalo Aws | CL-215-1A10 | C-GFNF | 1027 | PHOTO ? | |
| 703 | Buffalo Aws | PBY-5A Canso | C-FOFI | CV-343 | PHOTO | |
| 708 | Buffalo Aws | PBY-5A Canso | C-FUAW | CV-201 | PHOTO REQ'D | |
| 714 | Buffalo Aws | PBY-5A Canso | C-FPQM | CV-425 | PHOTO | |
| 776 | Buffalo Aws | PBY-5A Canso | C-GFFC | CV-483 | PHOTO | |
Ken Kula wrote me: "I just passed through your airborne tanker web pages and I saw you needed some Conair Firecat photos. I saw 4 in action during the Abbotsford BC Canada air show in August 2009." ![]() Conair (Firecat) Tanker 69 is C-FOPY (c/n 019), Tanker 74 is C-FEFK (c/n 014), Tanker 75 is C-FEFX (c/n 031) and Tanker 76 is C-FJOH (c/n 34) |
Helpful links:
www.s2ftracker.com/calfirephotos.htm
Iwan Bogel's comprehensive list
on www.dappa.nl
www.mattlogic.com/tanker.html
www.dyncdfsupport.com/tankerstatus.php
Airtanker Photo Pages
www.scancolorado.com/airtanker.htm
P-3 Referential

This website is an excellent source of keeping abreast of air tanker news and opinions: www.airtanker.com
The basis of this page has been largely based on one of their pages.
Other helpful external links:
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/fixed_wing/airtankers/iab_list.pdf
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