ESCANABA, MI-- Two “Super Scoopers” practiced drops at the Delta County Airport Tuesday.
The Canadair CL-415 is designed and built as a water bomber for aerial firefighting. It can scoop up to 1,600 gallons of water from a nearby source and drop it on a fire. There are only four such aircraft in the U.S.
Due to spring wildfire season the Forest Service has the tankers, a helicopter, and an air attack plane stationed at the airport. At 9 a.m. the tankers conducted proficiency tests, which included scooping water from Lake Michigan and dropping it at the airport.
Fire danger remains high in the Upper Peninsula, as higher temperatures and winds are keeping the area extremely dry.
