Distant shot from higher up, taken from the Hemet-Ryan control tower.

Nice elevated view from the control tower, with Tracker N435DF parked behind.

Elevated view from the control tower. This is the second Tracker to carry this registration. The first one was c/n 410 (1974-1985), but it never saw active service as such. On 1 Feb 2000 the registration was allocated to the this Tracker.

Elevated view from the control tower. This is the second Tracker to carry this registration. The first one was c/n 656 (1974-1985), but it never saw active service as such. On 1 Feb 2000 it was allocated to the this Tracker.

Elevated view from the control tower. This is the second Tracker to carry this registration. The first one was c/n 656 (1974-1985), but it never saw active service as such. On 1 Feb 2000 it was allocated to the this Tracker.

This unknown Huey has been a ground trainer at the Hemet-Ryan airtanker base since about 2002-2003. It is widely quoted as UH-1F N490DF (c/n 7108), or as UH-1H N490DF (c/n 12375), but it is neither. It has a long cabin (i.e. a UH-1D or UH-1H), so the short-cabin UH-1F c/n 7108 can be ruled out. And UH-1H N490DF was still operational with Cal Fire by 2018, as Tanker 205.
So the only known facts are that in 2003 this ground trainer still carried "Vina Helitack" titles, and tanker number 205. The long cabin means it must be a UH-1D or most likely a UH-1H. And it operated as "Copter 205" for the Vina Helitack before 2003. Suggestions most welcome!

This Bronco previously served with the US Marines as Bu155400.

This Tracker never served as an airtanker, and was never officially registered. It is an S2F-1, ex BuA136745, which was delivered to the Japanese Navy on 12 Mar 1959 as 4146. In Oct 1983 it was acquired by Hemet Valley Flying Service as a spares aircraft and stored at at the Hemet-Ryan airtanker base. In 2001 it was restored and placed on display as a memorial. The text on the memorial plaque reads: "Dedicated in memory of Lloyd M. Venable - A pioneer in the aviation industry - Founder of Hemet Valley Flying Service - 1946. Born Oct 3, 1906 - Died Feb 1, 1991."

Dromader sprayer resting between sorties at Hemet CA.

Registration cancelled in 2013.

Registration cancelled in 1998 as destroyed. Crashed at Columbia, CA in 1997.

First delivered to the US Navy, Sea King 149916 was bought by Carson Helicopters in 2003 and registered as S-61A N3173U. The helicopter was upgraded to an S-61T in a joint program with Carson and Sikorsky. This updated the machine with an airframe structural refurbishment, composite rotor blades and glass instrumentation in the cockpit among the improvements. It was sold to Siller Brothers in May 2011.