Waterbombing craft to combat NSW bushfires

A gypsy lady, a southern belle and a hammer-wielding god are the state's next big hopes for combating bushfires this summer.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has unveiled its newest firefighting weapons, two massive water-bombing aircrafts nicknamed Gypsy Lady and Southern Belle.

They'll join Thor, a Hercules C130 large air tanker that made its debut last month.

Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said Thor could drop more than 15,000 litres of water and the Gypsy Lady Air Crane has up to 9000-litre dropping capacity.

But the Southern Belle's very large air tanker was the most formidable, he said.

"These specialised aircraft can drop up to 44,000 litres of water," Mr Elliott said.

"When you consider the normal bucket-load carried by a water bombing helicopter is around 1500 litres ... the potential impact of these impressive firefighting planes is incredible."

They've arrived from the US just as the Aussie bushfire season kicked off with "above average temperatures", but the RFS says it's prepared.

The danger season officially launched on Thursday and with a confirmed El-Nino weather pattern in place, the RFS is reminding NSW residents to be vigilant and to start preparing their homes.

"This summer we can expect above average temperatures and below average rainfall combining for a very difficult and challenging fire season for the state," NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told AAP.

Southern Belle, Gypsy Lady and Thor complement more than 100 aircraft already contracted for the months ahead.

Mr Fitzsimmons said the new equipment will make a big difference in helping the RFS firefighters in fire-affected communities this season.

Temperatures are set to soar this October long-weekend, with the mercury expected to hit 31 degrees in western Sydney and even hotter in the state's west.