Airtankers can be loaded at 500 gallons per minute. Medium sized airtankers can be loaded in less than two minutes and can take four to six minutes to load. The base is capable of mixing and delivering 280,000 gallons per day with a maximum of 50,000 gallons per hour. Fire Retardant Airtankers drop fire retardant loads averaging 800 to 3,000 gallons. Helicopters drop water, foam or retardant loads averaging 300 to 2,000 gallons.
Retardants are gum thickened.
This results in more of the retardant coming into contact with the vegetation. The retardant consists of water, agricultural fertilizers, corrosion inhibitors, flow conditioners and color. The color fades to a neutral earth tone within a few weeks. A viewing area was established at the airport in 1997. Solutia Inc. The viewing area is open to the public during daylight hours 7 days a week.