K25 slide scan. Built 1953 as CV-340 for United. Lake Central 1964, converted to CV-580 1967, merged into Allgheny as N5843 1968. Nor Fly LN-BWG 1980, Partnair 1985, leased to Ryanair during 1988. Kelowna C-FKFL 1991, operating at times for Trans Provincial and All Canada Express. Air Freight NZ ZK-KFH 1994, Air Chathams 2017, used for spares at Auckland by 2019. One of three CV-580's registered as C-FKFL the others being msn 372 and 465.

Tanker 49 and Tanker 55 left on a routine training mission

This Convair was originally delivered to Ansett Australia as a 440 registered VH-BZM in October 1957. Once owned by Kelowna Flightcraft, it's the third CV580 to carry this Canadian registration. Pictured heading out for a fire suppression mission, the aircraft has been owned by Conair since December 2002.

Heavy smoke kept them all on the ground

Tankers 44 and 49 were dispatched from Canada and based at Fairbanks-Ft. Wainwright to combat the Parks Highway Fire burning near Nenana, AK, which was getting out of control. Both tankers made a short stop at Fairbanks-International to settle customs affairs before going on to their temporary tanker base at Ft. Wainwright.