Airtanker 06, Final Flight to Klamath Falls

Retired airtanker takes last flight Sunday from New Mexico to Klamath Falls

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Airtanker 06 will fly for the last time this Sunday to the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base where it will be retired to become a display for the public to enjoy along with the Airtanker 61 Memorial.

The final flight will start Sunday morning in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with the tanker expected to arrive in Klamath Falls around 2 p.m.

The public is invited to come to the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base and watch Airtanker 06 as it arrives for its final landing.  Those wanting to participate are encouraged to come as early as 1 p.m. to watch for the plane’s arrival.

The Klamath Falls Airtanker Base is located at 6300 Summers Lane.  Summers Lane can be accessed off State Highway 140 south of Klamath Falls.

Local firefighting resources and Smokey Bear are expected to be at the event from 1 to 3 p.m., conditions permitting.

Airtanker 06 is one of six air tankers retired last year that are being donated by Neptune Aviation in Missoula, Montana, for educational purposes.  Three airtankers went to air museums, one is remaining in Alamogordo,  One went to the Glendive Airport in Montana and the last here in Klamath Falls.

This is the last of the six airtankers to be delivered.  And for Airtanker 06, it’s a final return to Klamath Falls, where it was based during the 2000 fire season.

“It’s like going home,” said Marcia Cavin from the Airtanker 61 Memorial. “I think it’s an honor and we don’t mind being last at all. Once the engine shuts off, they’re retired.”

Airtanker 06 is a P2V-5F Neptune which began flying for the U.S. Navy in 1954 as an antisubmarine patrol aircraft.  In 1962 it was re-designated as an SP-2E surveillance aircraft.

After approximately 22 years flying for the Navy, the aircraft was retired from Navy Service and stored until it was acquired in March 1977 by Black Hills Aviation and converted into Airtanker 06.  Neptune Aviation acquired Airtanker 06 in 1994.  For 40 years, the tanker dropped thousands of gallons of retardant in support of wildland firefighters on the ground.  At the end of the 2017 fire season, all P2V aircraft in the Neptune fleet were retired.

Airtanker 61 Memorial and Wildfire Learning Center was among the organizations competing nationwide for one of the six aircraft being donated.

“This is a tremendous honor for us and we are so grateful that Neptune Aviation selected us from all the applicants across the country,” Cavin said.  “The hard work, support and patience of everyone involved in this as we’ve worked over the years to acquire an airtanker for display has been greatly appreciated, including Klamath Falls and the Airport.”

Following delivery, mechanics will remove equipment from Airtanker 06 to complete its retirement and the aircraft will transition to being a static display.

An open house will be planned sometime in 2019 to further share Airtanker 06 with the public.

For more information on the Airtanker 61 Memorial and Wildfire Learning Center, please visit www.tanker61memorial.org.

For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema, follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF.

Press release provided from the Fremont Winema National Forest, US Forest Service.