Largest Firefighting Aircraft In U.S. Flies Into Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- The nation's largest firefighting aircraft now calls Colorado Springs home.
The supertanker is a converted firefighter jet. It can carry close to 20,000 gallons of water or flame retardant.
The jet can haul its load over 4,000 miles which means it can also fight fires on ships or drilling rigs at sea.
"What a remarkable thing to be able to imagine something like this that has such versatility and the potential to do so much good and to see it come into reality," said Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Engineers say the tanker still needs another two to four weeks of work before it is ready for duty.
Wildfire Resources
- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.
Wildfire Photo Galleries
- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.