Design changes to Bambi Buckets

Citation

(2000), "Design changes to Bambi Buckets", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772fad.003

Design changes to Bambi Buckets

Design changes to Bambi Buckets

Keywords: SEI Industries, Fire, Helicopters

SEI Industries, manufacturer of aerial and ground firefighting equipment, announced recently a design change to the small Bambi Bucket® series. This change is thought to offer several advantages to helicopter firefighting.

Previously, on all small series buckets, an internal, 15lb lead shot bag was used to tip the bucket over for filling. The shot bags offered no protection to the bucket when dragged and were sometimes lost to water sources.

Two new 8lb steel ballasts have been added to the outside of the bucket in lieu of the old lead shot bags. The addition of these new ballasts are said to offer two advantages to pilots. Sometimes abrasion damage can occur to Bambi Buckets when pilots drag them over rough surfaces. The new external ballasts offer protection to the fabric of the bucket, this reportedly improves the lifespan. As well, the ballasts are said to be more environmentally friendly than the lead shot bags. Previously, abrasion around the shot bags led to leakage into the water sources during filling. It is SEI's opinion that the new external steel ballasts will eliminate this problem.

Effective for this season, all small series Bambi Buckets will include this design change.

Details available from SEI Industries Ltd. Tel: +44 604 946-3131; Fax: +44 604 940-9566; E-mail: alissa@sei-ind.com Web site: www.sel-ind.com