Worlds largest firefighting aircraft has new home at Colorado Springs Airport

The Colorado Springs Airport is home to the worlds largest Global SuperTanker fire fighting aircraft.

“The city of Colorado Springs and the entire Pikes Peak region are honored to welcome Global SuperTanker to our region,” said Mayor John Suthers.

It landed at the airport May 3. The Boeing 747-400 Global SuperTanker will help with fire fighting resources, not just locally, but all across the country.

The SuperTanker was chosen to live at the Colorado Springs Airport because of its central location.

“We know more about fighting fires than almost any state in America and to have a resource like this where we’ll be able to utilize it, I don’t doubt we’ll save lives,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Representatives with Global SuperTanker say Colorado Springs location makes it easier for the plane to get to other states that are prone to wildfires. The tanker has the ability to respond to virtually anywhere in the nation in less than 20 hours.

The aircraft is the fastest, longest-range and most effective aerial firefighting platform in the world. It can carry single or multiple drops or nearly 20,000 gallons of water or fire retardant.

The supertanker aircraft can fly 600 mph for long ranges and can reach any fire in the western U.S. in less than three hours.

Last year was one of the most devastating wildfire season in the history of the nation. More than 10 million acres of land burned, and billions of dollars were done in damages.