It is truly sad. I was alerted to the incident not long after the initial report had gone out in Australia. The airtanker community was buzzing nearly immediately everyone silently knew who and what aircraft it was. Truly a sad day. I've been checking off and on on our various platforms as the news has gone more public. It's a dangerous profession, one of the most dangerous arguably I'd say. This just adds to the tragedy that is this Bush Fire Season in Australia. Back here in the states, our own aerial firefighting community is in high gear supporting the crew's family as well as Coulson in the wake of this. T-134 (N134CG), the aircraft lost was their latest EC-130Q converted airtanker. T-134 was on it's second fire fighting season in Australia. 3 of Coulson's large airtankers are still in Australia. T-131 (T-390) their other EC-130Q, and T-137 and 138, their 737-300s. Personally, I'm close to the airtanker community without being a pilot or firefighter, being an enthusiast (grew up around it) and fire aviation photographer for years. It's gut wrenching when this happens. I can only imagine how horrible it is for those actually in it. Blue skies and fair winds.
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