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DC-10 used in firefighting efforts retired at Castle

Sun-Star Staff
A DC-10 air tanker makes a low pass at Castle Airport in Atwater, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. The Albuquerque, N.M.-based company 10 Tanker Air Carrier is retiring the DC-10 air tanker and flying it to Oscota, Mich., for dismantling. The aircraft, which was converted into an air tanker in 2004, began working for Cal Fire in 2006. The air tanker has dropped over 750 fire missions across the country and over 500 missions in the state of California.
A DC-10 air tanker makes a low pass at Castle Airport in Atwater, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014. The Albuquerque, N.M.-based company 10 Tanker Air Carrier is retiring the DC-10 air tanker and flying it to Oscota, Mich., for dismantling. The aircraft, which was converted into an air tanker in 2004, began working for Cal Fire in 2006. The air tanker has dropped over 750 fire missions across the country and over 500 missions in the state of California. Andrew Kuhn akuhn@mercedsunstar.com
ATWATER

A DC-10 plane that was used to fight many large regional rural wildfires was officially retired from service Saturday at Castle Airport.

Called Tanker 910, the plane took its final flight during the brief retirement ceremony Saturday. Albuquerque, N.M.-based company 10 Tanker Air Carrier announced in August that 2014 would be the final year the plane would fly for the company. Castle Airport has been the plane’s base since last summer. The plane will be taken to Michigan for dismantling.

The aircraft was converted to an air tanker in 2004, and began working in California under a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in 2006, a press release said.

The plane has dropped more than 500 fire missions in California, and more than 750 across the country. Those fire missions have included the Rim fire, King fire, Mountain fire, Zaca fire, Station fire and the Happy Camp Complex fire.

The company plans to replace the T-910 with a newer plane, according to the release.

This story was originally published November 16, 2014 at 8:58 AM with the headline "DC-10 used in firefighting efforts retired at Castle."

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