Skip to content

Photos at Coulson’s hangar at McClellan

T-131, Sikorsky S-76, and Coulson's hauler
Coulson’s T-131, Sikorsky S-76, and hauler

We took these photos at Coulson’s hangar at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, March 21, 2014 after the Aerial Firefighting conference (except for one photo that was taken a couple of days earlier). We appreciate the fact that Wayne and Britt Coulson feel confident to talk about and show others their firefighting operation.

T-131
T-131, a C-130Q.
Caption this. T-131.
Any suggestions for a caption for this photo?
T-131 being pushed out of the hangar
T-131 being pushed out of the hangar
Stickers in the tool box, Coulson
Stickers in the tool box of one of the Coulson mechanics. These guys are not JUST mechanics, pilots, and crewmembers. Many of them are passionate about fire aviation.

T-131 interior
T-131 interior, showing the drop doors. The tank sits on top of the hole in the floor.
Wayne and Britt Coulson
Wayne and Britt Coulson at their exhibit during the Aerial Firefighting conference, March 19.
T-131 tank, ready to be pushed into the aircraft.
T-131 retardant tank, ready to be pushed into the aircraft. We were told the tank can be installed in about 30 minutes.
Coulson hauler
The Coulson hauler carries tools and spare parts. The story is that the former owner was NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt (senior or junior, we’re not sure)
The interior of Coulson hauler
The interior of Coulson hauler
Robert Baxter
Robert Baxter will be retiring soon from the California Air National Guard. He has been a MAFFS pilot for 29 years, and will be one of Coulson’s Captains after he is out of the guard. He is one of four or five Coulson pilots with MAFFS experience.
Coulson tank washing system
The top of the retardant tank. When a garden hose is connected to a fitting on the back of the tank, water goes through the tubes to rotating sprinklers inside the tank, washing out the retardant residue. Some tanks have to be washed out by someone under the tank holding a hose pointing up into the tank — a very unpleasant task. The GoPro camera was temporarily installed on the top of the tank by a National Geographic Channel employee, to capture video for a program they are shooting.
Installing GoPro camera
A National Geographic Channel photographer installing a GoPro camera on the top of the retardant tank.
A National Geographic Channel film crew T-131
A National Geographic Channel film crew shooting video for a program they are putting together about T-131.

Comments

9 Comments

  1. Shiny decals, spotless support trucks and ever-attendant film crews. Coulson wins the sport of image management and marketing, hands-down. The family empire is very successful in its helicopter operation, lumber mills, casino and now, fixed-wing airtanker program. How the actual airplane delivers the product to the ground is what really matters. It is, at the end of the day, a 1980s derivative of a 1950s airplane using a 1970s tank. To be fair, the RADS tank performs infinitely better than the MAFFS system and one must note that most of the competing Next Gen operators have similarly aged equipment.

    • The RADS II tank system isn’t 1970s technology, it’s an improvement of technology from the 1970s. It doesn’t just outperform MAFFS, it outperforms every other tank system. There is no need for fancy designed forced release tank systems using cabin pressure (which don’t even work that well) when a gravity dropped, computer controlled constant flow system does the job and delivers the best pattern possible…

      As for the C-130 — it is an ageless aircraft in terms of its capability, which is the same reason Lockheed Martin still sells them in large numbers to customers around the world. The US Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy will be using them into the foreseeable future and acquiring MORE because they are great aircraft. If there was something better out there in its class, they would not be buying C-130s.

    • Based on what we are seeing on our evaluations after each drop, the product is being delivered exceptionally well. The aircraft was built in 1981…so stating the aircraft is 1950’s technology is not an accurate statement. The technology behind the RADS-XL tank being used is similar, but cannot be stated as a “1970’s tank” either. It is very easy to criticize from afar and make assumptions….

  2. Well Anthony

    I detect a little “beef” of what many of us were and have been saying about the equipment to include “Next Gen”

    But ol Coulson has got things going on that the UAV world still can not do as of yet……..deliver mud.

    Even then, with those thoughts, there is NO UAV in the pipeline that can deliver retardant…….oh wait a minute…..yes there is………all this tired iron that folks are fixin up to include “Next Gen” could be turned into UAV delivery, huh?

    After all, the Marines are doing with KAMAX in the sandbox…..more food for the UAV thought, huh?

  4. Looking at the Lockheed operators notes…….

    At least is FAA issued certificates are in place and even keeps the USFS happy with its “SIP Program.”

    What will cap this off will be a contract. IF they do not get a contract and the others in the “Next Gen” world……that get the same blessings…

    One can be sure of the ensuing outcomes that the USFS better pay attention to..

    Standing by to stand by……

  5. Is Tanker 17 airworthy, or just a display model? A few days ago a press release from NIFC stated that the Federal C 130s (7) would all be available for fire season 2015. Why does the government make statements like that? Or is Coulson and Dyna Corp. going to pull it off?

  6. As to the T-130 stickers on the toolbox- RIP Steve, Mike, Craig. Still call my
    mountain bike a “War Pony”-thanks to Steve…
    The Colson RADS tank is what Butler/TBM used good tanks…

  7. i’ve been a developer of flight sim aircraft for a while now and i just had to add this to the C-130. i love fighting fires in x-plane with this setup. i tried both systems. the reduced weight and more retardant really makes a difference.

    a screenshot:

    http://www.x-hangar.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=183&mode=view

Comments are closed for this article!

More in Fire Aviation News

North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information - NAFI, current fires at 10 November 2026.
November 10, 2026 / 1 minute

New federal support for Australian bushfire preparation

Drone Hovering Over a Burning Forest
September 20, 2026 / 4 minutes

How drones can better integrate with total incident response

September 10, 2026 / 2 minutes

Avincis boosts its European fleet with five 214ST helicopters