737 Large Air Tanker
Published Date: 05 Aug 2019
Summary
Starting this fire season, you may see our new 737 Large Air Tanker (LAT) overhead - a firebombing aircraft that will be available to assist us all year-round.
The new addition to the NSW RFS aerial firefighting fleet, named Marie Bashir, will be based at RAAF Base in Richmond and can operate from some regional airports. It will be able to reach all parts of NSW within an hour.
The 737 and its two lead planes will support our crews on the ground by providing fast, flexible and effective firefighting options.
Fast facts about the LAT:
- Primary role: firebombing
- Two pilot crew
- 15,142 litre retardant capacity
- RADS-XXL/2 constant flow firebombing system
- Cruise speed (loaded) up to 850km/h
- 33m length, 31.2m wingspan
- Typical cruise altitude (loaded) 25,000 feet
- Typical runway required 1,950m
- Up to 61,700kg gross weight
- 2 x 9,100kg thrust CFM 56-3 turbo fan engines
- Jet-A1 fuel consumption up to 3,400 litres/hr
- 2+ fire agency radios, satellite tracking
