"The Last Reporter"
This ex-USAF Northrop F-15A Reporter ( a P-61C Black Widow derivative) was the only one ever flown as a fire bomber. The aircraft had been operated by the NACA Ames Laboratory, as an aerial survey platform in Mexico, then purchased by Aero Enterprises Inc. in Willows, California.
AE removed the turbosupercharger intercoolers and the center fuselage fuel tank. It was then flown to Cal Nat Airways in Grass Valley, California, where a 1,600-gallon chemical tank was installed.
Cal Nat. purchased the plane and operated it out of Fresno, California for 3 and a half years as an aerial firefighting tanker. It was reported to be great at the job with good pilot visibility, plenty of power and a large wing area.
It was then purchased by TBM Inc. and in September 1968, they had it flying missions in the foothills of Hollister, California. Pilot Ralph M. Ponte was departing Hollister with a full load of Phos Chek fire retardant slurry, but even with full power the plane could not get airborne in the hot thin air, and Ponte was forced to abort the takeoff unsuccessfully, and slid to a stop in a vegetable patch on fire.
A TBM Avenger fire bomber was nearby with a full load of retardant and proceeded to drop two loads on the stricken plane, probably saving Ponte's life.
Speculation on the cause of the crash resulted in many theories but more than likely it was a matter of hung brakes.
Original painting available.
24"X30", acrylic on watercolor canvas.
Signed, open edition giclee prints are available for $150 plus $15 shipping (USA)
Image size 16"x20" on 18"x22" paper
The Last Reporter
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