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Sikorsky always felt that aviation, and helicopters especially, should concentrate on helping - not hurting - people.

The day before he died, he dictated this letter.

Last Letter.png


The day *before* he wrote the letter, he learned that helicopters had just rescued several hundred people during a skyscraper fire in Sao Paolo Brazil.

He knew his dream had become reality.
 
charlie74 said:
Since the days of Sikorsky, they have come a long way…

View attachment 98946


This is our new ride (an Airbus H145) which was the first one fielded to the USFS for fire suppression. It’s a very capable machine and can do everything an airliner can do as far as IFR capabilities but of course it doesn’t have the altitude, speed or range of a fixed wing…
But it can hover!
Click to expand...
You're a helicopter pilot for the forestry service?

My son is a firefighter for FWS, he is based out of the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge here in SW Oklahoma. He just got home yesterday from the Gwen fire out in Idaho, and he thinks he is about to get sent to California at the end of the week.
 
charlie74 said:
Since the days of Sikorsky, they have come a long way…

View attachment 98946


This is our new ride (an Airbus H145) which was the first one fielded to the USFS for fire suppression. It’s a very capable machine and can do everything an airliner can do as far as IFR capabilities but of course it doesn’t have the altitude, speed or range of a fixed wing…
But it can hover!
Click to expand...
Would have been nice if that old 206 I flew had a panel like that! :jester:
 
waltesefalcon said:
You're a helicopter pilot for the forestry service?

My son is a firefighter for FWS, he is based out of the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge here in SW Oklahoma. He just got home yesterday from the Gwen fire out in Idaho, and he thinks he is about to get sent to California at the end of the week.
Click to expand...
Tell your son "Thank You".That is extremely hard work when things get
"Hot & Heavy".Those guys really earn their money.
We'll be heading to California soon Eureka),& I'm hoping that there won't
be much going on fire-wise by then.
 
Hi Walter,
I sent you a p.m saying essentially what Doug said. The people working on the ground doing wildfire suppression are certainly worthy of our gratitude. That’s really where the fires are put out; we just support them. I hope he has a safe summer and if I end up heading to CA anytime soon, I’ll look out for his crew…!
 
I’m sorry, I really don’t know how to or if there is a mechanism for that…

Edit: USFS personnel are Federal employees so writing your congressional representative and demanding an increase in wages may be a good place to start. Bureau of Land Management personnel and Parks personnel may require communications with state legislators…
 
Last edited:
I know that the firefighters that help out make very good money,
& CalFire also pays for the equipment (engines,water tenders,etc).
Our department bought a used type III engine & loaned it out to
CalFire,& it was paid for in about a month.
 
Thank you fellas. I'd like to pass your thanks on to my boy, but he's a bit like me; praise makes him peevish. He would only grouse at me and ask why I mentioned it, and then I'd explain that helicopters were involved, and he'd say, "well, that's cool." Then we would talk about helicopters for a bit.
 
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