Impressive performance


Kirkland also praises the Eagle Single’s hauling performance. “External load- wise, it is fabulous. The standard bucket configuration between the two aircraft is that the Eagle Single normally carries the 324-gallon Bambi Bucket, while the UH-1H Huey takes the 240-gallon Bambi Bucket. The Eagle Single can carry both buckets, but the Huey will only take the 240-gallon bucket as they are not wired for SEI Industries’ Bambi Max. This bucket has a modulating valve that can


only be operated out of the Eagle Single and it is such a great tool. You can do a split drop or a line drop. Our buckets have pumps to draw water from low-water- level basins or rivers. This is necessary as we have limited water resources in Nevada, especially in the dry season.”


Kirkland continues, “I do like the capabilities of the Eagle Single with the tail rotor. It is still a 212, but it is a single-engine 212, so it has bigger composite rotor blades. It has a bigger tail rotor, and a push-pull tube instead


of cables for tail-rotor control. It has a tractor tail rotor, so the tail rotor on the Eagle Single is on the right side while the Huey has it on the left. I have stuck that tail in some pretty high winds and it just performs like a champ. It’s awesome! For that (reason), we would love to buy more Eagle Singles but we are limited by the passengers and weight/temperature chart for carrying passengers, as it is a certificated FAA aircraft. The Hueys are not limited by the weight/altitude chart for carrying passengers.”


The Bambi Bucket system allows NDF to get quick partial or complete fills from a range of previously inaccessible shallow-water sources including streams, canals, ponds and low-profile dip tanks.


70


Mar/Apr 2025


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