The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau as a commercial freighter in 1967, to replace the Antonov An-12. It was developed to deliver heavy machinery to remote, poorly served areas. Military versions of the Il-76 have been widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa, including use as an aerial refueling tanker or command center.
Ilyushin Il-76
The Il-76 is a high-wing freighter with four turbofans and a T-tail
Landing gear of an Ilyushin Il-76
Landing of the Il-76 transport aircraft at the Brest airport
Aerial firefighting, also known as waterbombing, is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing aircraft, or rappelling from helicopters. Chemicals used to fight fires may include water, water enhancers such as foams and gels, and specially formulated fire retardants such as Phos-Chek.
A DC-10 Tanker operated by a private contractor for the U.S. Forest Service demonstrates a water drop during "Thunder Over The Empire Air Fest" at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (2012)
A Neptune Aviation Lockheed P2V drops fire retardant at Pine Mountain, Oregon. (2014)
State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) Mil Mi-8MTV picking up water near Nizhyn
Kaman K-Max K-1200 used for aerial firefighting in Idaho