← Back to the archive★ Support my pages
DD-340TechFiled Last updated

Boeing's Red Rain

Short answer: The 747 Supertanker was a Boeing 747 converted into an aerial firefighting tanker. It could carry up to 19,200 U.S. gallons of water or fire retardant, the largest load of any firefighting aircraft, and fought fires in the U.S., Chile, Israel and Bolivia.

The last one, the Global SuperTanker, ended operations in 2021. The footage is a computer-generated animation of the jet dropping red retardant.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
More like this★ Support my pagesCite this file

What should you know about Boeing's Red Rain?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. It was a converted Boeing 747.

    DD-340-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Conversion)

  2. It carried up to 19,200 gallons.

    DD-340-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Capacity)

Video transcript: Boeing's Red Rain: A Converted 747 Could Drop up to 19,200 Gallons on a Wildfire

Did you know? The Boeing 747 Super Tanker is a modified version of the iconic 747 aircraft. It's one of the largest aerial firefighting planes in the world, capable of carrying up to 19,200 gallons of water or fire retardant. This massive capacity allows it to make significant drops over large wildfires, providing crucial support to ground crews. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 19.5s Reel ·

Video coming soonBoeing's Red Rain · Instagram Reel
Boeing's Red Rain: A Converted 747 Could Drop up to 19,200 Gallons on a Wildfire Instagram Reel · · 19.5s

The write-up

A converted 747 could drop up to 19,200 gallons on a wildfire. The Global SuperTanker stopped flying in 2021.

  1. Exhibit A

    Conversion

    It was a converted Boeing 747.

  2. Exhibit B

    Capacity

    It carried up to 19,200 gallons.

  3. Exhibit C

    Largest

    It was the largest firefighting aircraft.

  4. Exhibit D

    Countries

    It fought fires in several countries.

  5. Exhibit E

    Retired

    It stopped flying in 2021.

Questions people ask about Boeing's Red Rain

Which aircraft was converted?

A jumbo jet.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Conversion) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

How much could it carry?

Water or retardant.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Capacity) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

Why is the drop red?

Colored to see.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Largest) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

When did the last one stop flying?

Global SuperTanker.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Countries) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

Who does it support?

On wildfires.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Retired) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Which aircraft was converted?

    1. Boeing 747
    2. Airbus A380
    3. C-130
    4. DC-3
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Boeing 747 A jumbo jet. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Conversion) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

  2. How much could it carry?

    1. 19,200 gallons
    2. 1,920 gallons
    3. 192 gallons
    4. 192,000 gallons
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 19,200 gallons Water or retardant. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Capacity) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

  3. Why is the drop red?

    1. Fire retardant
    2. Paint
    3. Rust
    4. Dye for fun
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Fire retardant Colored to see. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Largest) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

  4. When did the last one stop flying?

    1. 2021
    2. 2009
    3. 2024
    4. 1990
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. 2021 Global SuperTanker. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Countries) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

  5. Who does it support?

    1. Ground crews
    2. Farmers
    3. Pilots
    4. Divers
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Ground crews On wildfires. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Retired) · Wikipedia: Evergreen 747 Supertanker

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Boeing's Red Rain." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-340, last updated Oct 7, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/boeings-red-rain/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/boeings-red-rain/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-340-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/boeings-red-rain/#DD-340-F01