Four of the 16 Sikorsky S-70i Firehawks (N492DF, N484DF, N451DF & N478DF) ordered by Cal Fire to replace 12 Bell UH-1H Super Huey helicopters. The first Cal Fire S-70i was delivered in Oct. 2019 and represents a major upgrade in wildfire firefighting capability. The S-70i's are built in Poland, completed by United Rotorcraft in Colorado, and fitted with a Kawak 1,000 US gal. belly tank. Cal Fire has 10 helicopter bases: Kneeland, Bieber, Vina, Howard Forest, Boggs Mountain, Moffett, Columbia, Hollister, Prado and Hemet Ryan. Two bases were still flying Bell UH-1Hs in early 2024.
This photo is copyright © Kenneth I. Swartz, and may not be used or published in any way without permission.
It was added on 29 March 2024, and has since been viewed 332 times.
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