Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE Arrives into Bundaberg Airport for the 2021 Bushfire Season

With yet another hot and dry Summer almost upon us, the Australia-wide aerial bush firefighting fleet is already starting to take shape with Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE photographed arriving into Bundaberg Airport from late on Thursday 26 August.

The large air tanker will again be based at Bundaberg Airport and operated by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) for the 2021 season.  Again, it has the potential to help fight fires across the state.  It still wears QFES and Queensland Government logos and stickers as it did in 2020.

The Conair Dash-8-Q402MR, C-FFQE (msn 4325), arrived into Bundaberg Airport all the way from its Abbotsford base in Canada via stops in Honolulu, Guam and Cairns where it cleared customs. The Dash-8 was originally built in 2011 and was acquired by Conair early in 2020 and converted to a fire bomber. Its maximum tank capacity is around 10,000 litres (2,642 US gallons).

UPDATE!  On Monday 30 August, Agair Logistics P/L Rockwell Turbo Commander 690B VH-LVG was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Stawell in Victoria. It was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Birddog 273".  It is assumed that it will again provide airborne support for C-FFQE during this coming bushfire season.

Sincere thanks to Dan B from Dan Beck Photography for allowing us to share these great photos!

All photos taken by Dan B  ©