Conair Firecat
Conair Group · Canada · first flew 1986 · transport aircraft
The Conair Firecat is a Canadian aerial firefighting conversion of the Grumman F9F Cougar (and later Panther) jet aircraft, re-engined with turboprop powerplants and fitted with a belly-mounted fire retardant tank. Conair Aviation of Abbotsford, British Columbia developed this conversion for wildfire suppression.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large belly retardant tank under original jet fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- F9F Panther jet converted to turboprop air tanker
- Large belly retardant tank under original jet fuselage
- Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprops replacing original jet engines
Identified by the slim straight-wing jet fuselage (clearly derived from a naval jet) combined with large turboprop engines and a prominent belly tank for fire retardant. The swept wings of the original Cougar retain their shape.
Specifications
- The Conair Firecat has a length of 13.26 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.12 m (73 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 407 km/h (253 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Conair developed the Firecat conversion in the 1980s, taking surplus US Navy F9F Cougars, removing their jet engines, and replacing them with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops. The conversion dramatically reduced operating costs while providing a fast, maneuverable platform for scooper and tanker missions. The Firecat operated for Canadian and American forestry agencies.
Variants
The Turbo Firecat uses PT6A engines on the Cougar airframe; a similar Turbo Tracker conversion was also produced by Conair from the S-2 Tracker.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Canadian and US aerial firefighting agencies; Conair is a major aerial tanker operator in Canada and this conversion is strongly associated with Canadian wildfire operations.
Related aircraft
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