A startup is transforming retired aircraft into water bombers to combat wildfires in Europe, following a record 500,000 hectares burned this year. The initiative comes as the region faces increasing wildfire risks due to prolonged droughts and higher temperatures. The company, which has not been named in the report, is working on converting disused planes into specialized firefighting aircraft. These converted planes are designed to carry and deploy large volumes of water or fire retardant quickly. The project is part of a growing trend to repurpose commercial aircraft for emergency response. The need for such measures has intensified after the unprecedented scale of wildfires across the continent. The startup’s efforts highlight the urgency of finding innovative solutions to protect forests and communities from escalating fire threats. (independent.co.uk)
