The SuperTanker is a valuable resource when fighting wildfires, but not in Colorado.

Colorado continues to be devasted by large wildfires, and many have asked, "Where is the SuperTanker that's based out of Colorado Springs?" No one has seen the Boeing 747-400 aerial firefighting craft, and as the fire damage and danger grow, it seems odd that we have yet to see this resource used in the fight when it's based out of Colorado Springs.

But, there's a particularly good reason behind the global SuperTanker’s absence—it's been fighting fires in California.

The plane is under contract with the United States Forest Service and has been deployed to help in California, which has over 550 active wildfires. The Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) has a Call-When-Needed (CWN) contract with the global SuperTanker in Colorado, along with Oregon and California. The state of California activated its contract with the SuperTanker before Colorado needed it, and therefore, the plane cannot be used here until that contact is released.

The DFPC says:

“While the SuperTanker’s massive drop capability may be the best resource for some fires, other firefighting aircraft may be more appropriate for remote fires in more complex terrain or higher-elevation or hotter-temperature settings. In such cases, smaller, more maneuverable aircraft (such as helicopters or SEATs) are safer and more effective. As with all aircraft, the Global SuperTanker aircraft performance is affected by temperature and elevation. The higher and hotter the conditions, the more power is required -- which can translate to decreased available payload or less fuel duration.”

The SuperTanker has almost twice as much capacity as the next smallest air tanker—it can hold 19,000 gallons of water or fire retardant and uses a pressurized drop system. It's such a large air tanker that it requires a lead plane on all drops! While massive, it can travel at a speed of 575 miles per hour and can be almost anywhere in North America in under five hours and be anywhere in the world in under a day! 

Global SuperTanker Services, which owns the plane, is run by firefighting air veterans and contracts with state and federal governments to assist in wildfire control. 

At least 80 aircraft are currently in use fighting several wildfires across the state of Colorado. This includes:

  • The full contract DFPC contract fleet: two helicopters, two single-engine air tankers, two Pilatus Pc-12 Multi-Mission Aircraft.
  • Two C-130 Hercules Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) planes from Peterson Air Force Base.
  • Two Colorado Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopters with buckets out of Buckley Air Force Base.
  • The High-Altitude Army National Guard Training Site (HAATS)  in Eagle CO, is on standby with a Hoist Capable Blackhawk helicopter.

For more information on the fires burning in the state right now, read our ongoing update here. 

Colorado is facing a drought, which has contributed to the extreme fire conditions. A rare “fire thunderstorm” occurred last week in the Pine Gulch Fire, prompting firefighters to run for safety and contributing to the rapid increase in the size of that fire. Several of Colorado’s beloved landscapes and hiking spots have been closed due to the fires, including the beloved Hanging Lake Trail. 

Please be aware of both the fire danger and the high levels of smoke in the air if you are heading out for some time in the great outdoors this week.