Getting water to a fire is only half the job. Where it lands, and how thickly, decides whether the drop does anything. Four things matter most: height, speed, timing and wind.
Height: low enough to land, high enough to be safe
Water falling from an aircraft breaks up as it falls. From too high, much of it turns into a fine spray that drifts away or evaporates before it reaches the ground, and what does arrive is spread thin. From too low, the drop can be dangerous to the crew and to people below, and the rotor wash or wake can fan the flames.
Pilots aim for a height that keeps the load together but is still safe over the terrain and trees, often in the range of 100 to 200 feet above the vegetation, adjusted for the aircraft and conditions.
In Dip & Drop, the height cue under the tank gauge turns:
- green for an effective drop (up to about 300 ft),
- yellow when you’re high and the water starts spreading out,
- red above about 800 ft, where most of it drifts away as mist.
Speed: a spot or a line
At low speed, the water lands in a compact, heavy patch: good for knocking down a hot spot. At higher speed, the same load stretches into a long, thinner line: good for wetting a strip of fuel ahead of the fire. Real airtankers can also vary how fast the doors release the load to control the coverage level, how much liquid lands on each patch of ground.
Timing: lead the target
Water leaves the aircraft with the aircraft’s forward speed, so it keeps travelling forward as it falls. Release directly over the target and the drop lands past it. Pilots release before the target, judging the lead by speed and height.
Dip & Drop draws a dashed line to a ring on the ground showing where your water will land right now. When the ring covers fire, it turns solid and DROP NOW lights up. The belly view (press C) looks straight down to help you aim.
Wind: plan for drift
Wind pushes falling water downwind, more so the higher you drop. It also drives the fire: the head of a fire runs downwind and uphill fastest. Pilots usually attack along the flanks or ahead of the head, and drop into the wind or along it for accuracy.
In the game, the wind arrow (top left) shows where the wind is blowing relative to your heading. The landing ring already allows for drift.
Firebreaks: drop where the fire is going
A drop doesn’t only cool flames. Soaking unburned fuel ahead of the fire makes a temporary barrier. In Dip & Drop, wet ground won’t burn for about five minutes, so a line of water across the fire’s path can hold it while you knock down the rest.
Ready to try? How to play has the controls, and The Big One will test all of it.