Fire-fighting aircraft stationed in northern lower peninsula

CADILLAC, Mich. (WZZM) -- An aircraft designed for fighting wildfires is posted at the Huron-Manistee National Forests.

The Bombardier CL-415 drops water directly on whatever's burning. It can do an average of nine water drops an hour, for a little over 14,500 gallons of water dropped. After a drop, the plane refills its tanks in 12 seconds.

This type of aircraft is used in the early stages of fighting a wildfire and differs from airtankers, which drop retardant in front of wildfires to slow them down.

The CL-415 drops water from 100 to 150 feet in the air, in a drop of up to 280 feet long by 65 feet wide. It can also put water down in a trail up to 400 feet long by 40 feet wide.

Source:   http://www.wzzm13.com