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The 747 Supertanker is an aerial firefighting aircraft based on a Boeing 747 widebody aircraft. Initially developed by Evergreen International Aviation, the first Supertanker was based on a 747-200 (N470EV, tanker/tail number 947), and never entered service. The second Supertanker (N479EV, tanker/tail number 979) was based on a 747-100 originally manufactured by Boeing in 1971 for Delta Air Lines.〔http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=479EV〕 It entered service for the first time in 2009, fighting a fire in Cuenca, Spain, and made its first American operation on 31 August 2009 at the Oak Glen Fire.〔(ABC - El 'superavión' bombero no fue efectivo en incendio Serranía de Cuenca ) (in Spanish)〕〔(Oak Glen Incident and Pendleton Branch ) (map)〕〔(Oak Glen Incident ), InciWeb〕 As of August 2015, Global SuperTanker Services, the successor to Evergreen Supertanker Services, is in the process of developing a new Supertanker, based on a Boeing 747-400, and using the existing tank system.〔http://gazette.com/colorado-springs-airport-will-house-largest-firefighting-aircraft-in-country/article/1557267〕〔http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/evergreens-defunct-747-supertanker-is-rising-from-the-a-1723914413〕 The 747 Supertanker can carry up to 19,600 gallons (74,200 liters) of retardant or water for 4,000 miles (6,400 km), and is the largest aerial firefighting aircraft in the world.〔 ==Development== Development started after the 2002 fire season, which saw the fatal crashes of two air tankers in the USA. The accidents, involving a Lockheed C-130A Hercules and a Consolidated PB4Y-2, prompted the U.S. Department of Interior to issue an official Request for Information on next-generation airtankers.〔(Alaska Journal of Commerce - Fighting fire with 747s )〕 Evergreen proposed to convert up to four of its Boeing 747-200 Freighters into massive 'Supertankers'. The first converted Boeing 747 (N470EV) made its maiden flight on February 19, 2004.〔 The current Supertanker is N479EV, a 747-100. By June 2006, Evergreen had spent $40 million on the project and was hopeful of both FAA certification and an evaluation contract from the US Forest Service.〔(Flight International - Evergreen modified firefighting 747-200 Supertanker poised to clinch FAA certification )〕 In October 2006 the FAA issued Evergreen a supplementary type certificate for the installation and removal of internal tanks, associated systems and the support structure for the aerial dispersal of liquids.〔("Supplementary Type Certificate ST01912LA Installation and removal of internal tanks, associated systems and support structure for the aerial dispersant of liquids" ). US Federal Aviation Administration, October 27, 2006.〕 An issue that impacted usage by the Forest Service was the USFS requirement for using fire retardant rather than water. When Evergreen attempted to convert the system from water- to retardant-dispensing, they encountered objections from the FAA. The FAA was concerned about the much greater density of fire retardant and the corresponding increased stress on the airframe. The FAA determined that the Supertanker's service life would be diminished and also raised concerns about the dangers of additional stress on the airframe during firefighting operations and heavy weight maneuvering. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Evergreen 747 Supertanker」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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