As tanker "490", part of a large bombing group deployed at Slave Lake. Carries the "Long Liner" name. Acquired from the UK's Channel Express, in whose basic colours it entered Air Spray's active service in 2003, later adopting Air Spray's standard scheme.

Built for the Hughes Tool Company in 1959, but never delivered, this Electra was sold instead to the Federal Aviation Administration in 1961 as N111. It was re-registered N97 in 1972. To NASA as N429NA in 1979, it was withdrawn in December 1994 and stored at MASDC. The aircraft was taken out of storage circa 2002 and seen in several salvage yards adjacent to MASDC before registered to Neptune Aviation Services in 2004. It joined Air Spray air tanker fleet in 2006 and is pictured working with the British Colombia Forest Service.

Seen here on active deployment at Rocky Mountain House as tanker "90", still in Channel Express basic colours. Entered passenger service in 1958 with Pacific Southwest Airlines. Converted to a freighter in 1979, serving initially as N5539 with Evergreen International Airlines, then transferred to Channel Express Air Services from 1990, with whom it became G-CEXS in 1992. Joined Air Spray in 2003 for use as a fire bomber.

The former NASA 429 has been with Air Spray since 2006. On the nose is the logo of the Forest Service British Columbia - Airtanker Operations and that is indeed where Tanker 482 has been working for a numer of seasons in a row. It was undergoing pre season maintenance here and also sports the "45 years Wild Fire Suppression" badge on the nose wheel door.

Modern airtanker belly tanks are complex pieces of engineering, with eight compartments on the Electras of Air Spray and Buffalo Airways. This view with fairings removed, looking forward, shows the control mechanisms for the even-numbered rear four compartments.

Another 'jet prop' with an interesting history, that is quite well documented on AirHistory. This one was delivered to TEAL in New Zealand in 1959. She had a number of US and Canadian operators from 1972 onwards, including Reeve Aleutian Airways. Undergoing continued work here on the conversion into airtanker. The paint scheme on the fuselage is still mostly following the Reeve livery but with different colours.

Formerly N2RK, this Electra would eventually go over to Air Spray for conversion to air tanker and is now operating in the Buffalo Airways fleet as Tanker 416

Tanker 90 at rest after another long fire season

Being prepared for its trip to Revelstoke

This Electra was converted to air tanker by Air Spray and is seen here awaiting flight testing.

Resting after a busy fire season at the Campbell River Air Tanker Base

Departing for the Northwest Territories

Buffalo's first Electra firebomber, but with its belly tank removed. It would be another couple of years before the aircraft was certified by Canadian authorities.