Safer Aerial Firefighting System Also Draws Water Faster

Dec-16-14 A new system able to draw water into firefighting helicopters at three times the rate of conventional systems is not only much faster—it is also safer.

Developed by Inventec, the prototype system features a round tank that is connected by a hose to the vacuum pump inside the helicopter (instead of inside the tank itself). The new version also does not need to have the tank totally submerged in order to bring in water, which means it can be used in water as shallow as 9.8 inches and does not need to be drug laterally through the water in order to be filled. Once full, the tank's water can be released at a controlled flow by the helicopter crew, or the unit can be set down on the ground for used by ground-based firefighters. The tank's design also prevents it from drifting into the copter's tail rotor, even when being transported at very high speeds.

The Inventec company is currently in negotiations with potential manufacturing partners.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[INVENTEC.ES]

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