ѻý

Skip to content

One final fairwell for retired wildfire tanker at Kelowna airport

Conair CV580 tanker fleet retired earlier this month
30548340_web1_221006-KCN-flyby-water-drop-_1

After two decades of service for B.C. Wildfire, Conairѻýs fleet of Convair 580 tankers went out with a bang. Or, a splash.

KF Aerospace, the centre that opened at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) earlier this year that boasts an impressive aircraft collection, hosted a fly-by and water drop with the last of the tankers on Wednesday, Sept. 28 in a last hurrah.

Just before noon, the plane made a low pass over the YLW runway, dropping around 7,600 litres of water.

ѻýThis aircraft has played such a vital role in protecting our province from devastating wildfires,ѻý said KF Centre for Excellence Executive Director Paula Quinn. ѻýKF also shares a special connection with the aircraft, having assisted with the tanker conversions, making this a natural fit for our collection.ѻý

The general public will soon be able to see the aircraft up close and personal at KF, where it will be kept in airworthy condition. In 2000, the centre, then named Kelowna Flightcraft, helped Conair convert ten of the fleetѻýs planes from commercial into tankers.

ѻýWeѻýre honoured to give T452 a home and take care of it in its retirement.ѻý

KFѻýs collection also includes a Hawker Tempest MK II, a Mosquito bomber, and a DC-3 among others.

READ MORE: Candidate composure: Full house for 1st mayoral forum in Kelowna

READ MORE: Central Okanagan students sliding in literacy, numeracy



Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com

Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.



Jake Courtepatte

About the Author: Jake Courtepatte

Editor of ѻý & West K News since February 2022. I have spent the majority of my career working in the Toronto area as both a sports reporter and a general reporter.
Read more