THE Richmond based-NSW Rural Fire Service DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker was unveiled with a new name on November 3.
The huge water bombing aircraft was named ‘Nancy Bird’ in honour of Nancy-Bird Walton, Australian’s first woman to obtain a commerical pilot’s licence and who founded an outback air ambulance service.
The Premier Gladys Berejiklian unveiled the name at a ceremony at the Richmond RAAF Base, alongside Anne Marie Holman, the daughter of Nancy-Bird Walton, as well as Member for Hawkesbury Domininc Perrottet and emergency services minister Troy Grant.
The VLAT is part of the RFS’ fire-fighting arsenal, and drops large loads of water and fire retardants or suppressants onto fires in remote locations to assist ground crews.
It can reach anywhere in NSW, and recently helped to fight fires in Indonesia.
It can carry up to 43,900-litres of water, and its maximum takeoff weight is 190,500-kilograms.
The Premier said the VLAt was a key part of the NSW RFS’ fire-fighting strategy.
“We are indebted to the 74,000 NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers who protect this state and our government is determined to support them by ensuring they have the equipment they need,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We know how quickly bush and grass fires can spread and devastate communities, which is why large capacity aircraft like “Nancy Bird” are vital to provide heavy duty support to firefighters on the ground.”
Emergency Services minister Troy Grant said in September alone more than 6,200 NSW RFS volunteers had responded to 2,500 fires.
