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I think LAFD paid about $14 million each for them, equipped. I doubt if the County could come up with that kind of money.

The new Bell 412EP that is now Copter 2 cost $10.5 million fully equipped.

The County fire helicopters are old refurbished Bell 205's. I don't know what they cost.

I'm curious about the Ramona Airport control tower. Is it an FAA tower? It doesn't seem like there is enough traffic at that airport to qualify for one. If not, who is paying for it?

It looks like the Forest Service is pulling some of their aerial assets out of Ramona. I heard one of their helicopters (the S-61?) flight following this morning on the way to Monterey and a few minutes ago on the web cam I saw one of the P-3s (25) leaving. I don't know about the other P-3 (00).

You're right, it looks just like it!

LAFD is buying AugustaWestland AW139 helicopters.

http://www.agustausa.com/NLT_E_Photos/LAFD.html

The Sycuan Fire Department's Copter 563 paid a visit to Montgomery Field this morning. It's a Bell 212 with registration N212TH.

A few pictures are at the following URL, if interested.

http://picasaweb.google.com/CKennedy92/ ... TjtkD9po6E#

AA 330 and the 'scoopers were dispatched to a fire north of Rancho Bernardo, but were canceled before they took off (except for 330) which did orbit over the fire briefly. Copters 1 & 2 made several drops on the fire, but it was pretty much out by the time the tankers would have gotten there. I ...

A Ramona engine is usually sent to the airport when there are sustained tanker operations going on. Maybe they decided they didn't want to use one of their engines during the red flag period and asked Miramar for help instead. Just a guess. I was at the airport this morning about 9 to 9:45. The wind...

The latest air attack 690 is out of service for maintenance. I think that if the county is going to do this next year they should contract with somebody who can get more reliable aircraft.

ASTREA 4 was flight following on Fire Air today as they were flying around the county. When asked by Monte Vista if he was a water dropper he replied that they were configured as a helco (helicopter coordinator) for the next couple of days.

N427MA used to be in Mojave as Mercy Air 14. There's a photo of it at the following URL.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=176949&nseq=6