Canadair CL-215

21 Apr 2026 · © Siliconserver

Preserved Canadair CL-215 firebomber (F-ZBBH) of French Sécurité Civile on display at the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum.

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Comments (1)

Kiwi Aviation · 21 Apr 2026

Perfect!

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Aircraft

CL-215 CL2T

French civil protection yellow and red

F-ZBBH

Registration

Airline

Sé

Sécurité Civile (France)

Manufacturer

Canadair

Gear

iPhone 16 Pro

Achievements

Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Livery Legend

3 badges earned

Insights

Aviation History

The Canadair CL-215 was the world\'s first purpose-built water bomber and has been indispensable for aerial firefighting since its introduction in the 1960s.

Fleet Rarity

Relatively rare, as the CL-215 is mostly retired and replaced by the CL-415 and DHC-515 variants.

Record Flights

Not known for record flights but frequently operated on challenging fire missions in Europe and North America.

Safety & Events

CL-215s have participated in many major firefighting campaigns across the Mediterranean and North America. The type had a strong safety record but several have been lost in service due to dangerous operational conditions.

Future Outlook

Most CL-215s are retired or in museums; this example is preserved on display at the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum in Germany.

Specifications

Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial piston engines

Engine

28.6 meters

Wingspan

19.82 meters

Length

2,119 km

Range

291 km/h

Speed

12,000 liters of water (firefighting payload)

Capacity

17,170 kg

MTOW

8.98 meters

Height

1864 kW (2500 hp) each

Thrust

ICAO Chapter 3 (civil standard piston twin, no modern hushkits)

Noise