Tanker 00

Air Classics, Nov 2000 by Gibson, T J

A couple of comments on the remarks relating to P-3A Tanker 00 that appeared in "Day With The Bombers" in the August issue. The cracked spar was actually found due to a fuel leak noted during a reload operation at the Phoenix Sky Harbor tanker base. While 00 was being repaired, it was replaced by Tanker 21, another P-3A, and not "an old Neptune pulled from storage." This was done since Tanker 21's contract at Medford did not start until mid-June.

Incidentally, I was curious as to why Tanker 127 was training at Fox as the contract list dated 1 May 2000 "schedule of items" shows Tanker 121 assigned to Fox effective 2 July, Tanker 123, also one of the H&P PB4Ys, has been shuttling between the Winslow and Phoenix tanker bases, working on local fires of late, probably due to a break in the end of its Ribbing, Minnesota, contract ending 29 May and scheduled start of its Billings contract on 13 July (presumably something else has been filling in there).

One thing I've discovered about tanker operations is that you never know what to expect at any given tanker base, regardless of contracts! The two Aero Union DC-4 tankers assigned to San Bernardino (Tankers 14/15) have both been at Phoenix recently: Nearly all southwest region (Arizona, New Mexico) assignments in the last two seasons have been P-3s or P-2s along with a C-130 (no Douglas equipment!): Incidentally, the aforementioned contract list does not show an assigned location for Tanker 127.

T..1: Gibson

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