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A pair of bright yellow and red firefighting planes affectionately known as “super scoopers” landed at the Van Nuys Airport late Saturday afternoon.
The aircraft, which Los Angeles County leases from the Canadian province of Quebec, have become an important part of the county’s firefighting arsenal.
They can fly up to 200 mph and scoop up 1,620 gallons of water (48 bathtubs) in just 12 seconds. After dumping their cargo on a fiery hillside, they reload their tanks by skimming over the surface of the ocean or a large lake.
The iconic planes have been fighting fires in Southern California for more than 20 years.
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