A McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) has touched down in Brisbane on its way to joining the NSW Rural Fire Service’s firefighting air fleet.
The DC-10, which will be under contract from 10 Tanker Air Carrier in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the United States, is expected to be based at RAAF Base Richmond alongside a Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules that arrived in Australia in late August.
The 10 Tanker Air Carrier website says the DC-10 was capable of carrying 43,910 litres of fire suppressant per load.
The RFS said on September 1 it would have 35 aircraft supporting the firefighting effort over the coming bushfire season, which would be “supported by over 100 tactical aircraft from operators that have met standards to carry out aerial firefighting activities”.
