Super Scoopers are agile and can execute multiple water collection and fire suppression cycles in a single mission.
As California battles devastating wildfires, a unique fleet of aircraft known as “Super Scoopers” has become a critical part of the firefighting arsenal. These Canadian-made planes, officially called the CL-415, are designed specifically to combat wildfires with minimum lost time and maximum impact.
Super Scoopers are amphibious aircraft capable of scooping up over 1,500 gallons of water directly from a body of water like a lake, bay, or ocean. Unlike helicopters equipped with water buckets or traditional air tankers that require landing to refill, these planes skim the surface of water bodies at speeds of up to 160 km/hr. In a matter of seconds, they fill their tanks and are ready to drop their payload on active fire zones.