The new addition to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s rotor fleet has arrived at Sacramento McClellan Airport on 12th October 2019.
The new helicopter is a twin-engine craft called the Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk from United Rotorcraft, which are manufactured specifically for CAL FIRE and for firefighting purposes. It will serve statewide through the mutual aid system, which deploys firefighting resources across California. The aircraft will be able to carry up to 1,000 gallons of water in an external belly tank, replacing the UH-1H Super Huey in operation at the base since 1994. In total 12 new helicopters were ordered by CAL FIRE as part of their fleet modernisation programme.
