The A-Flex Firefighting Monsoon Bucket

Our Monsoon Bucket is a flexible, free standing fully featured fire fighting monsoon bucket.

Designed in close consultation with key industry users such as the New Zealand Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Fire Service and helicopter operators, the A-Flex Monsoon Bucket meets all criteria with regard to transportability, ease and speed of deployment, in-flight handling characteristics, methods of filling and variable dump characteristics.

Monsoon Bucket Quick & Simple Deployment in under 2 minutes! (Click on images to enlarge)
Lift the bucket out of the cockpit or cargo compartment	Undo latch lacing on bag	Open the rapid deployment bag. Pull bucket bridle out of bag.	Remove from bag. Extend the bucket.	Lift into vertical position	Lift radial over top of centre post latch.	Attach the D-Ring and connect the 2 ARO bayonet pneumatic connectors. The bucket is ready for instant use.

Construction Details

All metal parts are made from 316 stainless or other corrosion resistant metals. The ram is specifically designed for constant multi-cycling and is also built of corrosion resistant materials.

The fabric is made from 1100DTEX Polyester reinforced PVC acrylic, lacquer top-coated, UV stabilised, flame retardant and mildew resistant. It has a tensile strength of 4000N/5cm and tear strength of 500N and retains its flexibility to -30deg c. It is fully repairable.

The bucket has a fully modular construction. Each bucket has a unique number retained at our factory. In the event of a problem the number can be quoted any particular part requiring replacement can be sent for fast repairs. All parts other than the ram are fully field serviceable. We also provide a full back-up and repair service at the factory.

The air connections are standard ARO quick release bayonet connectors.

The discharge of the bucket is controlled by an air driven ram. The air is normally supplied from a standard breathing apparatus bottle but can be driven from any suitable compressed air supply. We can supply an air bottle kit for installation in your aircraft if required.

Filling the Monsoon Bucket

The A-Flex Monsoon Bucket fills quickly under all circumstances. Its ability to free stand when both empty and full means that it has a high water-pump capacity when pump filling, so it is both quicker and safer for the helicopter pilot and fire-fighting crew. Faster turnaround means higher fire suppression capacity per hour. Effective weight distribution designed into the bucket ensures quick settling in both dip and scoop filling modes and in deep and shallow water.

(Click on images to enlarge)

Transport

Because of its low weight the A-Flex bucket can be carried in the helicopter all times during the fire season ready for instant action. If carried in the cockpit or passenger compartment the small size of the unit means that there is no need to remove the doors to load or unload the unit.

Flying Characteristics

The A-Flex bucket is stable and predictable under a wide range of flying conditions, both full and empty. When being towed the unique stabilising vane prevents rotation and forces the bucket to remain as close to the vertical as possible without adding greatly to the monsoon bucket's wind resistance. Pilots have reported excellent towing characteristics under a variety of conditions.

Safety Aspects: If for any reason the bucket has to be jettisoned the aircraft cargo hook is released in the normal way and the bucket falls away, full or empty. No damage will be caused to the aircraft as the ARO bayonet connectors are suspended from the quick release rings so that any downward force immediately releases the connectors

Firefighting Characteristics, Dump Pattern and Dump Rate

The full bucket load can be dropped in 9 seconds. The unique skirting system is ground adjustable to give either a spray or dump pattern according to need. The adjustment can be made in less than two minutes without any tools or specialist knowledge.

The pneumatically controlled dump valve permits multiple drops to be made from a single load. This ability, in combination with the variable dump pattern, permits very controlled application in the dampening down phase of a fire fighting sequence with optimal use of water thus saving considerable time.

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