Douglas DC-4 "Oil Bomber" Spray Plane at KCGI

Where is his documentation for plane as a dispersant sprayer. No spray booms or spray nozzles, no spray equipment at all. More than enough dispersant spray planes in the GoM including the USAF. No spills in the GoM to spray.

But Florida is in the middle of a dry summer and wildfires and does need another water bomber as the planes IS.

While I didn't interrogate the pilot as to the validity of his claim that the plane actually would be used in oil dispersion, there seemed to be no reason to question his honesty.

According to him, it has served as a fire bomber, cargo hauler, and as I'd mentioned, also participated in the Berlin Airlift...which made it historically interesting to me.

It was my understanding that the aircraft will be based in Port Charlotte, on a stand-by basis, so that it can immediately respond to a spill in it's early stages. The logistics of such an operation require that the equipment be in place way before it's needed. I have no idea as to how many dispersant planes are based in the Gulf Area.

I do know that the switch between spray plane and fire bomber involves extensive changes to the aircraft's systems and airframe because most large fire bombers don't spray water. They lay down a slurry of fire retardant chemicals that require a different application method. Also, this job has been migrating toward turbine-engined aircraft due to their load-hauling and maintenance-time capabilities...where the four Pratts on the DC-4 require much more TLC.

The spray booms were not attached because they were not needed for plane's trip Florida. Their removal streamlines the aircraft, making it more fuel-efficient on it's long ferry flight from Canada. They were stowed, along with spare wheels and other gear in the rear of the plane. I just now posted a photo of the plane's aft interior, showing some of it's equipment.

While I took quite a few photos of the DC-4, I only posted one, not wanting to hog space on the Missourian's Site. Also I don't have a gauge on how interesting this stuff is to folks in general, and didn't want be a bore with it.

Kim Stricker