air tanker

plural air tankers

1. An aircraft used to deliver liquids (or powders) from the air, usually either fuel, fire-retardants, or water.

   Near-synonym: waterbomber (broadly synonymous)

   3 more examples

   In this, the airliner made contact with an air tanker and "topped up" its incompletely filled tanks with fuel enough for the contemplated journey.

   1945, Sydney E. Veale, To-morrow's Airliners, Airways and Airports, page 254

   Sometime later, they made a rendezvous with a Victor air tanker for a top-up of fuel and then resumed patrol while the tanker headed back.

   1989, Julian Jay Savarin, Trophy, page 157

   If the only air tanker available is 300 miles away, it can still be over your fire in a fairly short period of time.

   2002, Robert W. Klinoff, Introduction to Fire Protection, page 188

   Synonyms: AT, waterbomber[Appendix:Glossary