The world´s largest, fastest, and longest-range aerial firefighting asset celebrated its official homecoming in Colorado Springs this morning.
Global SuperTanker Services, LLC´s Spirit of John Muir dazzled nearly 300 guests with a low fly by, at just 400 feet, and a demonstration drop of nearly 10,000 gallons of water. The converted 747-400, a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT), will be soon be available to the hardworking men and women of the US Forest Service and emergency responders across the country as they continue to fight the ever-growing threat of wildfires.
The Spirit of John Muir is the world´s youngest VLAT, and has almost twice the capacity of the next biggest aerial tanker. The John Muir is capable of delivering single or multiple drops of nearly 20,000 gallons of water or fire retardant, either of which can be released at variable rates, producing a tailored response to the firefighting need.
The Spirit of John Muir´s firefighting scope isn´t limited to the US: from Colorado Springs, the plane can fly anywhere in the world in under 20 hours. “Longer and more destructive fire seasons are a global problem, and Global SuperTanker can deliver a global, rapid solution,” CEO of Global Super Tankers Jim Wheeler noted.
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