Tanker 95

[Jimbnks]

Does anyone know what TG Tanker 95 would use?

 

[dgruver911]

They don't. No 800 radio on the plane. Kansas Forestry is trying to get funding to get one for it, but aircraft rated radios are very expensive. They use a couple of VHF channnels to communicate with a spotter on the ground. I believe they are itinerant channels or VTACs.

 

[aprswatcher]

Start with the National Flight Following frequency for firefighting aircraft
168.65 nfm
Also 168.625 nfm this is National Air Guard frequency.
listen for frequencies given out to the aircraft for air to air and air to ground contacts.
Not sure of the location of an air tanker base, but try
123.975 or 123.925 am
73, Rex

 

[Jimbnks]

They don't. No 800 radio on the plane. Kansas Forestry is trying to get funding to get one for it, but aircraft rated radios are very expensive. They use a couple of VHF channnels to communicate with a spotter on the ground. I believe they are itinerant channels or VTACs.

@dgruver911 I was hoping you would chime in, I thought you know for sure. Thanks for the information.

 

[Jimbnks]

Start with the National Flight Following frequency for firefighting aircraft
168.65 nfm
Also 168.625 nfm this is National Air Guard frequency.
listen for frequencies given out to the aircraft for air to air and air to ground contacts.
Not sure of the location of an air tanker base, but try
123.975 or 123.925 am
73, Rex

It was doing water drops on the wildfires in Rice County. Sunday 4/4/2021.

 

[nd5y]

The 2020 federal air-to-ground frequencies for Kansas are (or were)
166.6375
166.8000
167.2250

National Incident Radio Support Cache - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Those might not even be used unless the fire is big enough that they have to bring federal and out of state resources and a federal inicdent management team.

The 2020 NWCG Airtanker Base Directory doesn't list a base in Kansas. I think it only applies to federal contract aircraft.

 

[dgruver911]

For all you experts out there....Tanker 95 is a privately owned air tanker based at the Hutchinson airport. He is under contract with the Kansas Forestry Service to provide support to any county in Kansas and has been used several times the past couple of years. If I recall right he charges $4,000 an hour and for now the KFS is picking up the first 2 hours.

 

[dgruver911]

The 2020 federal air-to-ground frequencies for Kansas are (or were)
166.6375
166.8000
167.2250

I stand corrected. I checked the programming for our radios. These are the correct frequencies. Labeled in order KS1-KS3 Air-Ground. They also have access to the VTAC's. dg

 

[dgruver911]

Hutch News article on Tanker 95 from Nov 2019

Firefighting air tanker puts on show Friday

With brisk winds snapping the triangular “red warning” flag flying outside the Hutchinson Fire Command Center, it seemed the perfect day for Bill Garrison to demonstrate the capabilities of his rejuv…

www.hutchnews.com

 

[Jimbnks]

Thanks for all the information, good story, thanks for sharing.

 

[mattwillson]

Tanker 95 is currently fighting a fire in Barber County, made at least two drops so far.

 

[wally849]

They have used 123.450 in the past as well.

 

[west-pac]

They have used 123.450 in the past as well.

123.45 is a national air to air frequency.