Canadair met success with this ambitious project; to build a waterbomber with 50% bigger water tank capacity than the Canso, capable of carrying 5,400 litres. Ideally it would be filled by scooping on open water, or could be filled on the ground through fittings on the side of the craft.
They succeeded in building a plane that was cost-effective, popular and could scoop the target 5,400 litres in one ten-second scoop.
The CL-215 proved itself domestically by putting out fires in Quebec - saving more in damages than the water-bombing budget for the year.
Also used for search and rescue, Canadair sold over 100 planes internationally. One plane sold to Thailand was even fitted with a galley and a toilet. The US expressed interest in purchasing 20 planes for dumping defoliant in Vietnam, but none were ready for purchase at that time.
Spain purchased eight CL-215s and paid for them over 8 years with wine from the personal collection of the Spanish Minister of Agriculture!
In 1975 Canadair adapted a chemical retardant mixing system to make the drops more successful.
Not only was this waterbomber popular, it was effective. One plane set a world record by making 225 drops on a fire in one day.
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