Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

How big are they going with fixed wing aircraft? The spotters are usually
very light, L-19's, O-1, O-2 size but the aerial tankers are growing in
size. 
I saw what looked like a P-3 doing drops on TV and I know that there are
C-130's with water dump off the ramp available. Evergreen Air has converted
747's to water droppers-- 140 knots and 500 feet for 250 000 pounds or so of
water and retardant. Sounds like not a place to be when the water falls. 

Irv Lichtenstein