The system for very early detection and suppression of fires is comprised of the network of low orbiting micro-satellites, local drones, processing and communication equipment and fire suppression capabilities with fire retardants and water delivered by drones, helicopters, planes and/or ground fire crews. Micro-satellites and drones are equipped with very sensitive, high resolution imaging spectrometers operating in multiple visible and infrared wavelengths. Processors are used to analyze spectroscopic micro-satellite images to detect fires and to verify validity of fire detection by analysis of spectroscopic drone images. The system can prevent large wild fires anywhere in the world rapidly with high detection sensitivity and reliability.

An aircraft usable as a passenger aircraft and a fire fighter aircraft. The passenger aircraft includes a passenger area with passenger seats and a permanently installed fire extinguishing medium tank for storing fire extinguishing medium such as water, as well as a fire extinguishing medium nozzle for discharging the fire extinguishing medium. The passenger aircraft may be a type from an aircraft series also including a long-haul aircraft having a center tank for range extension. In the passenger aircraft, a center tank may be used as an extinguishing medium tank.

In the field of agriculture and aerial firefighting, some example vent systems for aircraft fluid dispersion tanks include a vent-well recessed below the top of the tank. When a gate valve assembly below the tank opens to release fluid for dispersion along the aircraft's trailing flight path, the vent system prevents a detrimental vacuum from developing within the tank. In some examples, a recessed vent exploits the Coanda effect to direct air into the tank without obstructing the pilot's view. In some examples, a low profile scoop above the vent further promotes airflow with minimal visual obstruction. In addition or alternatively, some example vent systems include a lightweight cable connecting the gate valve assembly to a spring-loaded vent. The cable pulls the vent open in response to the gate opening to release fluid. When the gate closes, the cable becomes slack, which allows the spring to close the vent.

A firefighting aircraft adapted for use in an unmanned aircraft system includes a storage tank for firefighting fluid, having a plurality of filling ports spaced from one another. A probe carries a conduit that is in fluid communication with the storage tank. The conduit receives water from a body of water overflown by the aircraft. A filling system for controls the flow of water to and from the storage tank, and includes a remotely and automatically operable valve respectively associated with each filling port. A control system is in communication with each valve, and is operative to command the position of each valve to regulate the flow of fluid through each filling port. A baffle may be further provided internal to the storage tank at least partially defining a first chamber within the tank. The baffle may include one or more baffles, and be provided substantially vertically, horizontally, parallel with or transverse to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, or otherwise, and is operative to contain water entering the tank through the filling port, substantially filling the first chamber before filing any other portion of the storage tank.

An aircraft for unmanned firefighting may include a water tank fillable via a scoop operation during flight of the aircraft, and configured to be emptied by a release operation at a target of interest, a communications module configured to employ wireless communication via a ground link and/or a satellite link to provide real time or near real time communication with a remote configuration or monitoring facility, an imaging module configured to obtain image data at the target of interest for identifying updated target information, and a navigation module configured to enable remote or autonomous operation of the aircraft during the scoop operation and the release operation.

An apparatus, operations controller and methods for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles for detection, prevention and suppression of fires in a designated zone are presented. Monitored information is received and analyzed to detect a presence of a fire event or a fire risk in the designated zone. A cargo unmanned aerial vehicle is directed to a vicinity of the fire event or the fire risk and instructed to deploy a fire retardant or a fire suppressant at a location of the fire event or the fire risk, if the presence of the fire event or the fire risk is detected.

A tank assembly for a helicopter is provided. The tank assembly comprises a retractable tank for storing liquid or other substances, an attachment mechanism, and first and second struts. The retractable tank comprises an upper frame structure. The attachment mechanism is attached to the upper frame structure and is configured to engage a cargo hook mount on the underside of the fuselage of the helicopter. The first and second struts extend from respective opposing sides of the upper frame structure. Each of the first and second struts is configured to engage a respective side mount on the fuselage of the helicopter.

Environmentally-clean biodegradable water-based biochemical concentrates for producing fire-inhibiting and fire-extinguishing liquids and foams for fighting Class A and/or B fires. The concentrates are formulated using generally safe food-grade chemicals, for foaming agents, surfactants and dispersants, and fire inhibiting extinguishing agents, without the use of phosphates and ammonia compounds. Automated proportioning and mixing devices and systems can be used to mix the biochemical concentrates with proportioned quantities of pressurized water so as to produce fire inhibiting and extinguishing water streams, as well as finished firefighting foam materials, to both inhibit and extinguish fire involving Class A and/or B fuels.

A disposable unmanned aerial glider (UAG) with pre-determined UAG flight capabilities. The UAG comprises a flight module comprising at least one aerodynamic arrangement; and a fuselage module comprising a container configured for storing therein a payload and having structural integrity. The container is pressurized so as to maintain structural integrity thereof at least during flight, so that the UAG flight capabilities are provided only when the container is pressurized.

When distribution material is distributed over a target site on a ground surface from an aircraft, a distribution supporting apparatus offers support information to a pilot dropping the distribution material to efficiently distribute the distribution material. The distribution supporting apparatus includes: an input section to which information items on at least an aircraft velocity, an aircraft altitude, and a wind velocity are input; a computation section configured to compute a location at which the distribution material dropped from the aircraft arrives on the ground surface and a density distribution of the distribution material on the ground surface based on the information items input to the input section; and a display control section configured to display, on a display, the support information relating to the location and density distribution computed by the computation section.