"Flowerpot'', the US Naval plane rejected by the Premier as an underwater dive site, has been embraced by firefighters at the US Naval base.

P-3A Orion, formerly Bravo 152160, was handed over to the NAS Fire Division in November as a training aid for simulated fire-fighting drills.

Since then, it has been used regularly to help train firefighters on the base how to deal with a crash situation.

"The plane is a big asset for Bermuda,'' said acting fire chief, Gary Mastrobattisto. "We can give much better fire protection. It is an excellent training aid.

"The Navy requires a certain amount of drills every month. Training helps keep everyone at peak performance,'' he said.

The division, which is one third Bermudian, undergoes rigorous training in fire fighting in the United States and Canada.

"There is a tremendous amount of talent here,'' said acting fire chief Mastrobattisto. "We have an excellent firefighting department.'' To hone their skills, the men and two women practise drills daily. Prior to "Flowerpot'', they used an old bus.

"It is a tremendous asset having a whole working aircraft,'' said the acting fire chief.

Last week, the aircraft, which logged 14,638.3 flight hours and has done tours of duty in the United States, became the scene of a crash as a smoke machine pumped it full of non-toxic smoke.

"After the alert is given, fire vehicles must by regulation get to any point on the runway in two minutes,'' said acting fire chief Mastrobattisto. While firefighters hosed the craft with water, a rescue team of three wearing masks wrenched open the door and fought their way through billowing smoke.

The firefighters then link hands and feel their way along the side of the plane to find their way.

Seconds later the team emerged bearing a dummy which they strapped to a stretcher.

"The visibility was almost zero,'' said Bermudian fire fighter Cassandra Wales, who was making her first rescue. "I couldn't see my hands but I learnt a lot.'' Fire captain Albert Donawa, who joined the division in 1967, said he was thrilled with the plane.

"I am very excited about it,'' he said. "It gives us training that's reality -- it's the real thing.'' "Flowerpot'' was built at Lockheed in the United States in 1960 and ended Naval service in May 1990, a month before it was brought to Bermuda.

After the engine and usable parts were removed, the plane was positioned near the main gate as a static display until it was moved to its new home on Weapons Point in November.

Photos by David Skinner MAKING IT SAFE -- Firefighters hose down the plane and surrounding area to prevent escaping fuel from igniting.

RESCUED! -- Naval Air Station firefighters pull a body from a smoke-filled plane during a drill last week.