Firefighting tanker dropping its load affecting how it flies

[Urban Sports]

I saw this video as a link from another

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwS8Gv27J8&fea...

It got me thinking, how does dropping so much weight in one go affect how it flies in that short space of time?

[Simpo Two]

20,000 gallons of water is 200,000lbs which is 89 tons = 9 Grand Slam bombs!

I guess it all comes down to maintaining the C of G within set limits.

[anonymous-user]

Yep, the water is fed out at about the cg, taking it all from tanks at such a rate that trim is kept within limits. Is that the evergreen 747 firebomber? Am on phone so I can't get to the vid.

I think dropping stuff out the back of hercs or c17s is a bit more risky.....I think there is definite elevator correction by the pilot when dropping the big stuff.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

coanda said:

I think dropping stuff out the back of hercs or c17s is a bit more risky.....I think there is definite elevator correction by the pilot when dropping the big stuff.

Yes. Quite a trim change (and a fair bit of elevator input) when dropping MSPs (Medium Stressed Platform).

[Flintstone]

I've spoken to waterbombing pilots who tell me that some models require a fairly large effort to hold the aircraft attitude until the trim gets sorted out. Watching them training, scooping up and dropping the water a few seconds after rotation, is a good way to pass time.

[Simpo Two]

I'm glad I don't have to fill it from an outisde tap and 5 metres of Hozelock's finest...

[magpie215]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

coanda said:

I think dropping stuff out the back of hercs or c17s is a bit more risky.....I think there is definite elevator correction by the pilot when dropping the big stuff.

Yes. Quite a trim change (and a fair bit of elevator input) when dropping MSPs (Medium Stressed Platform).

I Seem to remember from the bbc series test pilots that the ETPS were tasked with checking how much force was required on the yoke when a palletized load was dropped out the back.

they had some kind of gauge on the control yoke which measured the pilots input forces

ETA...yes I did remember correctly....2:30 into the vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGBL9GWn2LM

Edited by magpie215 on Friday 14th January 19:28