MONTANA – Bridger Aerospace this week donated a piston-powered Rockwell Twin Commander previously used by the company as an air attack platform. The plane will be the first non-fire bomber aircraft on display at the museum according to Bob Hawkins, Director of the Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting located in Greybull, Wyoming.
The aircraft, registered N6262X has served over 4,000 hours of air attack duty according to K Mita, Director of Marketing and Communications at Bridger Aerospace. The aircraft took off on its final journey to Wyoming from Bridger headquarters in Montana this week, with hopes of the aircraft being on display soon in Wyoming.
52X was the second plane owned by Bridger Aerospace, said Bridger CEO Tim Sheehy. “this was the first plane to ever fly a contract and earn revenue for the company in wildland firefighting,” he added.
Sheehy said that the aircraft had reached the end of its useful life for the company and they had several options, that included selling the aircraft on the open market, salvaging the aircraft for parts for the company’s existing fleet, or donating the aircraft to a museum. The Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting not having any representation of an air attack platform being a deciding factor, Sheehy decided to offer the aircraft to the museum, which they gladly accepted.
“With the museum not having an aerial supervision aircraft, this was the logical solution for the future home of this aircraft, being able to educate the public on the role of aerial supervision during wildfires. It’s a great resting place for this aircraft to spend the rest of its days,” said Sheehy.
52X along with Bridger Aerospace markings carries the decal for the Montana Firefighters Fund. A fund founded by the Bridger Aerospace team was set up to benefit the families of wildland firefighters that are injured or killed in the line of duty.
