Seaplane Sunday

Photo: Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons.

Purpose-built amphibious “scooper” for aerial firefighting; derived from the CL-215 and introduced in the 1990s. Still flying with multiple agencies worldwide.

Born from the CL-215 lineage, the CL-415 (later Bombardier 415) first flew in 1993 and entered service in 1994. Production ran through 2015 across Canadair/Bombardier, with Viking Air acquiring the type certificates and De Havilland Canada reviving the line as the DHC-515. Capacity: ~6,137 L (1,621 US gal) in two water tanks with foam injection. Key operators include France, Italy, Greece, and others.

Refs: Wikipedia overview (history, production, operators) and OEM/fleet specs (capacity).

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CL-415s remain frontline in Europe/North America; crews value short scoops, tight turns, and rugged amphib ops. The program’s next chapter—the DHC-515—adds updated avionics and systems, with new builds planned for multiple countries in response to rising wildfire seasons.

• Specs in service: 6,137 L water, foam mix system, WX radar; typical loaded cruise ~180 kt.
• Program update: DHC-515 orders booked by several EU states; first deliveries targeted after flight-test campaign.
• Ops note: Fire agencies regularly remind: drones near TFRs can ground scoopers instantly—don’t fly drones near fires.

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For Wind & Wireless, the CL-415 is a template for community education: amphib safety briefs, WX & RF demo missions, and STEM outreach on wildfire science. We’ll track DHC-515 fleet rollouts and training opportunities with regional operators.

• Field demos: Bay/Delta waterway profiles; basic met soundings and comms tests aligned to TFR rules.
• Museum partnerships: Cockpit walk-throughs and water-drop sims for public events.
• Ops literacy: Public posts on TFR etiquette & how scoopers work—why clear lakes/airspace matter.