Can you spot this bay?

[Eren]

Here is another "spot this place" thread...

While organising my videos folder, I came by this video which I had shot in the summer of 2015. I am sure that many here will spot the place easily but, still it is an interesting video, worthwhile having a look. It is not a usual boating sight for sure!

 

[Portofino]

Villfranche

 

[NGM]

were they firefighting planes scooping water ?

 

[Eren]

were they firefighting planes scooping water ?

Yes, and one of them was almost landing on me if I hadn't pushed the throttle all the way forward within the bay in order to run away from collision. I am not sure if my insurers would pay for such an interesting collision

 

[Lloydroberts]

Yes, they're Canadair/Bombadier(scoop) planes.

I wouldn't like to be snorkeling when one of those filled up.

 

[Mr Googler]

Great video :encouragement:

Why do that though moored boats? Looks calm a bit further out.

Imagine that happening at Osbourne or Studland.....there would be some strongly worded letters sent in

 

[Portofino]

They overfly a few times dipping the wing tips up and down in an attempt to signal “ we are gonna come in “ ,then when everyone’s clear do a scoop .
Normally a squadron of 6 .
There’s a lot of bush fires in the hinterlands in the SoF .
Have not seen those yellow ones recently ,I suspect replaced with some red ones I’ve seen hangered up on a ad hoc basis at Mandelieu airport over the summer .
I think the red ones don,t scoop they seem to do F1 style super pit stop refills on the tarmac .

 

[Eren]

Portofino is right, it is Villefranche.

However I guess that the pilots were kind of ex-fighter pilots

As far as I saw, they made no signals, and seemed like they were having fun making some rather risky sorties. You may also feel that while watching the video.

 

[Lloydroberts]

That takes some skill.

 

[Lloydroberts]

Why fighter pilots?

Risk is minimal(unless you are flight crew)

 

[MrB]

That takes some skill.

Not really, It's just an "ad-on" qualification to a pilots license. If you can fly a plane you can land it, just in this case you have to read the runway as it can be moving/bumpy lol.

 

[NGM]

Yes, they're Canadair/Bombadier(scoop) planes.

I wouldn't like to be snorkeling when one of those filled up.

funny you say that, I'm pretty sure that exact incident won a Darwin Award. A dead man in full scuba gear was found on a Californian hillside, they eventually realised he was scooped by a plane in the previous summer forest fire.

 

[MrB]

funny you say that, I'm pretty sure that exact incident won a Darwin Award. A dead man in full scuba gear was found on a Californian hillside, they eventually realised he was scooped by a plane in the previous summer forest fire.

I remember that, it was years ago.

 

[Portofino]

That takes some skill.

There’s old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots .

View attachment 73421View attachment 73422View attachment 73423

 

[Eren]

Actually getting the water should rather be the "easier" part of the task. Think about the discharge side, fumes, may be almost zero sight, thermal effects of fire, etc, etc...

 

[MrB]

There’s old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots .View attachment 73421View attachment 73422View attachment 73423

He was just showing off, great photos though lol. *That comment should be He/She, I know a lot of female pilots that are great but one female Dakota pilot fits that bill exactly lol *

 

[Lloydroberts]

Actually getting the water should rather be the "easier" part of the task. Think about the discharge side, fumes, may be almost zero sight, thermal effects of fire, etc, etc...

I'll take your word for it.