Watch: Aerial firefighting demonstration at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

North American Helicopter, based at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, on Monday held a public demonstration of the firefighting capabilities of its newly acquired, $7 million K-MAX medium-to-heavy lift aircraft.

The helicopter is one of just 23 in the country and the only one currently in the Midwest.

On Monday, the aircraft demonstrated its ability to aid in aerial firefighting operations. During flight, the helicopter dipped its Bambi Buckets into a nearby pond, collecting nearly 700 gallons of water.

Then it completed short flight patterns, ending with the helicopter hovering about 100 feet above the ground and initiating a test drop to return the water to the pond.

The K-MAX is designed to pick up to 6,000 pounds and can be seen locally doing precision placements of rooftop HVAC equipment and utility work. The helicopter will also be used to fight forest fires across the nation and into Mexico. For more information about North American Helicopter, visit www.northamericanhelicopter.com.

This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM.