Bearing the name of a formidable mythical figure, one half of a pair of fire-fighting super planes has arrived in Sydney, ahead of a bushfire season that is predicted to be volatile.

Thor, a C-130 Hercules contracted from the US, has arrived at Richmond and can be flown to anywhere in NSW within an hour.

The 68,000kg aircraft carries five times the water load that fire-fighting planes previously used in Australia can hold.

“The people of NSW will be able to rest easy tonight, the first day of spring, knowing that Thor is going to be in the skies, looking out for them,” Emergency Services Minister David Elliot said.

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre released its seasonal outlook for the 2015-2016 season, and said that the expected prolonged dry weather will produce a higher bushfire risk than usual.

Another aircraft, a DC10, is due to arrive in Australia next much to accompany Thor – only this one can carry 45,000 litres.

The cost of both planes, here to operate across two fire seasons, totals $9.8 million.

© ninemsn 2015