PHOTOS: A DC-10 Air Tanker dropping retardant onto the Aquila Fire was a sight to see for the people who live in the area. It takes a whole team from the firefighters on the ground to the crews in the air to battle the large brush fires burning all across Arizona right now. The huge flames are dramatic and destructive themselves but the sight of the tankers making airdrops are an awesome sight as well. A DC-10 VLAT, or Very Large Airtanker, dropping retardant onto the Aquila Fire in the far North Valley was a sight to see for the people who live in the area. A small plane called the Air Attack talks to the firefighters on the ground and decides the tactic that they are going to use. Then they relay the message to the air tanker where to drop the retardant.