Thank you Max for the lead to Mr. Keeley.
From: Charles Dills <c*@mac.com>
Date: October 26, 2007 10:31:07 AM PDT
To: j*@usgs.gov
Subject: OK, You're right
I have not read your page. I'm recovering from pneumonia, am 85, alert but lacking the "follow through stamina" I usually have!
So why am I writing?
Because I think I have an idea worth spreading and you seem to be qualified to judge it.
I was a pilot in WWII, 94 missions straffing and divebombing in Italy, Corsica and Southern France. So I know a little about the low altitude operation of high performance aircraft albeit I realize my familiarity is considerably outdated.
I see the TV of the tankers attacking the So. Cal. fires in the daytime with strong winds. This appears so futile and wasteful. They are attacking it at the wrong time. They should be attacked at night when the winds are down and the chances of success are much greater. But you cannot send human beings into that kind of danger in rough terrain with operators that can only see in visible light.
The solution is get the military to help adapt their technology to a new fire fighting technique. There are people sitting in chairs and watching a screen at Edwards AFB, sending attack drones to Iraq and Afghanistan to wipe out targets without getting out of their chairs.
We need to develop a drone tanker with incredible night eyes and terrain following technology and fire detection ability. If it (they) could be sent in as soon as the wind abates and could make their multiple rounds until the wind kicks up again, I can imagine this increasing the fire fighting effectiveness by a large factor. I think it would cut the losses enormously.
Am I just whistling Dixie? Do you have any power to advance this idea, provided you agree that it has the merit I think it does! ---Chas---
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It’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable.
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Charles E. Dills 1371 Avalon San Luis Obispo CA 93405
Climate, Calif-mediterranean 30-80 deg 20 inches rain in winter!
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I can be forgetful. If I fail to do something I promised, tell me!
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