Wildfires – Russia sends the world’s largest firefighting aircraft to Greece [Video]

At a time when the demand for more aerial firefighting means on the fire fronts is massive, Russia decided to send to Greece two Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft and two Mil Mi-8 helicopters.

The giant Ilyushin Il-76 type aircraft, one of the largest in the world, are called “flying tankers”, as they carry up to 40 tons of water, while they have been used in Greece in the past.

It is noted that the Greek government had made a request to Moscow for the concession of a second Beriev-200 amphibious firefighting aircraft.

“By decision of President Vladimir Putin, the request for an emergency shipment of additional aerial firefighting equipment from Russia, carried by Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister N. Dendias to their Russian counterparts, was accepted. The response will be immediate, “reads a statement from the Russian embassy in Greece.

✈️ Με απόφαση του Προέδρου Βλαντίμιρ Πούτιν, το αίτημα για έκτακτη αποστολή επιπλέον εναέριων μέσων πυρόσβεσης από τη Ρωσία, που μετέφεραν πριν από λίγο ο Πρωθυπουργός Κ.Μητσοτακης και ο ΥΠΕΞ Ν.Δενδιας στους Ρώσους ομολόγους τους, έγινε δεκτό.
Η ανταπόκριση θα είναι άμεση. pic.twitter.com/sMCMH46BAr

— Rus Embassy, Greece (@RFEmbassyGr) August 9, 2021

The Ilyushin Il-76

Robinson describes the Ilyushin plane – a 180-ton airborne beast that carries three times as much water as the largest American tankers – as the largest firefighting aircraft in the world.

However, these aircraft have some limitations. According to US Forest Service firefighter Wayne Bushnell, it is a jet that flies at very high speeds and at high altitudes, while the reservoir system that allows it to carry water and throws water on fires.

It also requires a long runway and extra ground crew, here it does not have the precision of a helicopter or a smaller plane. It is also designed to pour foamy liquid.

For his part, the forester and expert in forest fires, Gabriel Xanthopoulos, had previously stated that this aircraft “rarely proved useful” in the conditions prevailing in our country.

As he explained, the aircraft can not take water from the sea or lake, can not drop retardant liquid and can not land at many airports.

Also, when it discharges its load from a significant height – as it can not maneuver – and under strong winds, the water may scatter and not go to the target.