Ex US Navy 53337.

Aircraft sustained fuel management problems (misidentified as a mechanical issue) during a low-level spraying flight out of Sussex, NB and attempted a wheels-up forced landing on McLaughlan Road / Highway 126 north of Moncton, NB, Canada. A wingtip struck a telephone pole and the aircraft swerved off the road into a field, sustaining significant damage. Normally prior to spraying a block there was a radio call for "spray check" at which time a full wing tank was selected and revs increased among other items. Pilot missed this call due to radio malfunction. The fuselage was trucked out the previous day. Pilot was unhurt.

Ex US Navy 53337.

Ex US Navy 53337.

Departing Avalon after supporting fire bombing operations in Victoria is C-GVFT Bomber 166 returning to Dubbo.

Conair Aviation Douglas A-26, C-GHLK was photographed departing the Abbotsford air tanker base on July 6, 1975. Conair was operating a large firefighting fleet of Grumman TBM-3 Avengers, A-26 Invaders and Douglas DC-6Bs at the time, all of which would be parked on the grass at Abbotsford during the off season. For more information of the history of C-GHLK, see Gary Vincent's 1980 photo on this site.

Skyway Air Services of Langley, BC first acquired Grumman TBM-3s in the 1960s for spraying and fire fighting. The fire fighting division was spun off as Conair Aviation in April 1969 with a fleet of ex-RCN and US Navy single-engine Grumman Avengers which were later sold to Forest Protection in New Brunswick. Avenger CF-MUE/618 was photographed being washed at the BC Forest Service tanker base north of the Conair hangars at Abbotsford on July after attacking a receives a wash after a mission on July 6, 1975. It was exported to the USA as N40402 in 2001.

This Douglas A-26, C-GHLX, was imported from the US in 1975 and became by Conair Aviation's air tanker No. 32. The aircraft still wears its former US colour scheme, with the US history documented on this site by other photographers. On the far left of the photo is a gunbutt from there wartime RCAF Abbotsford (No. 5 OTU) base and on the right are the fuel pumps and fire retardant tanks of the old BC Forest Service air tanker base. This aircraft was later repainted in Conair's new red and white colours. It was de-registered by Conair in Dec 1985 and registered to Air Spray 1967 Ltd. in July 1987

Appropriately sombre weather to mark the last flight for this 1955 built Convair 580. It has just arrived at the B.C. Aviation Museum from its former base at Abbotsford (CYXX). I first saw it as Convair 440 OO-SCS of SABENA on 1 February 1964. Behind is Douglas Invader CF-BMS which is also an ex Conair fire bomber.

The end of the road for the Conair Convair fleet as this was the last season for the aircraft. After serving the province for over 20 years, Tanker 55 will either end up as scrap or in a museum somewhere.

One of a number of firefighting aircraft waiting at readiness outside Kamloops Provincial Air Tanker Centre. Another Firecat, C-FJOH, is just out of shot, while bird dog spotter Aero Commander 690, C-FZRQ, can just be seen to the left with Forest Protection AT-802, C-GJJX, to the right.

Receiving a "hot" replenishment of retardant, as active aerial wildfire fighting in the wider local area is being carried out from Edson Airport.

Seen at Cranbrook against a magnificent Canadian Rockies background. Winding down after a sortie to combat a wildfire in the immediate local area, carrying the bombing number "78".

Carrying the bombing number "78", one of a number of fire-bombing aircraft at the Fire Attack dispersal adjacent to the British Columbia Wildfire Service Headquarters at Kamloops Airport.

This aircraft is now displayed in military markings in the Bay of Pigs Invasion Memorial Park at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, FL., USA.

Arriving from Kamloops (CYKA) is this 1973 built Turbo Commander using call-sign "Fireguard (FGD) 131".

Arriving from its Abbotsford (CYXX) base as "Fireguard (FGD) 116" is this 2008 built CitationJet.

Carries the logo of the Forest Service, British Columbia. Acting as the bird dog spotter aircraft, directing the forest fire fighting efforts of a detachment of Conair's S-2 Firecats deployed at Vancouver Island's Victoria Fire Base for the season.