Modular Airborne Firefighting System
Continue readingMAFFS training scheduled for Southern California next week
Military C-130 aircraft will practice dropping up to 3,000 gallons of water, getting ready for the wildfire season
Continue readingMAFFS — A look back
Development and use of the Modular Airborne Firefighting System
Continue readingRide with the pilots as C-130 aircraft drop retardant on fires
Video shot from the cockpit as the MAFFS-equipped aircraft battled the fires
Continue readingTwo additional MAFFS air tankers mobilized
File photo of MAFFS aircraft at Cheyenne, WY for annual training and recertification, April 30, 2014.Two military C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) were mobilized earlier this week to serve with two that were previously activated. Until last month it had been two years since C-130s from the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve had been mobilized.
This year MAFFS have delivered 123 loads of retardant, including several on the Lake Fire north of Los Angeles and the LNU Lightning Complex in Northern California.
A C-130 equipped with a MAFFS can deliver up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant. The system slides into the back of the military aircraft and retardant is sprayed under pressure through a nozzle in the troop door on the left side. MAFFS aircraft can be activated to supplement the civilian airtanker program to slow the spread of wildland fires.
“We’re at our highest level of wildfire preparedness with multiple regions of the country experiencing a significant level of fire activity,” said Kim Christensen, deputy assistant director for operations for the USDA Forest Service. “These aircraft are instrumental in providing increased aerial firefighting capacity on fires across the West.”
Two of the aircraft are from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, Port Hueneme and two are from the ANG’s 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming. The crews rotate out with other Air National Guard or Reserve Wings every week to 10 days. Eighty-seven Department of Defense personnel are mobilized as part of the deployment.
A MAFFS C-130 from the Wyoming National Guard refills its tank during training at Boise April 21, 2017. Photo by Bill Gabbert.(This article was modified to show that the two arriving MAFFS aircraft bring the total up to four.)
Video of National Guard MAFFS air tankers in action
A MAFFS air tanker approaches a target. Screenshot from the National Guard/Airailimages video.Fred Johnsen of AIRAILIMAGES sent us information about a video he compiled about the California National Guard C-130s that were activated with the slip-in Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System. The MAFFS can spray up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant using the air-pressurized system.
Fred describes the video:
Here’s a blend of two video B-Roll segments from the California Air National Guard showing the preparation of he 146th Airlift Wing’s C-130s for use as firefighters, and then actual fire duty from the cockpit in July 2020. Look closely and you will see the lead plane put out a stream of smoke where the C-130 is supposed to drop. And listen to the sounds of the drop from the cockpit.
The two C-130s from the California National Guard were replaced after a week as scheduled on July 29 by a Herc from Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” and one from the Air Force Reserve’s 302 Airlift Wing out of Peterson Air Force Base at Colorado Springs.
Two C-130 MAFFS air tankers relieved by another pair
MAFFS C-130 training in Boise April 21, 2017. Photo by Bill GabbertAfter a week on the job the two California National Guard C-130 MAFFS air tankers that were activated on July 22 are being relieved as scheduled and will return to the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands in southern California.
A Herc from Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” deployed July 29 to Sacramento McClellan Airport. It will be joined by one from the Air Force Reserve’s 302 Airlift Wing out of Peterson Air Force Base at Colorado Springs.
The military C-130s use the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) which can deliver up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant. The system slides into the back of the aircraft and retardant is sprayed under pressure through a nozzle in a modified troop door on the left side. MAFFS aircraft can be activated to supplement the civilian airtanker program to slow the spread of wildland fires.
A C-130 from Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” during training in Boise April 20, 2020. Photo by Bill Gabbert.Photos of MAFFS and 747 Supertanker at McClellan July 28, 2020
The 747 Supertanker is seen July 28, 2020 at Sacramento McClellan Airport with a MAFFS C-130 from California’s 146th Airlift Wing. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda H. Johnson.Two C-130 aircraft from the California National Guard were activated July 22 to serve as air tankers using the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS). They have been available for wildfire support at Sacramento McClellan Airport.
The 747 Supertanker has been flying firefighting missions out of McClellan almost every day for the last week.
Looking at the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System in the interior of a C-130 operated by California National Guard 146th Airlift Wing. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda H. Johnson, July 28, 2020.
Retardant residue on a MAFFS C-130 from California’s 146th Airlift Wing. Up to 3,000 gallons of retardant can be sprayed under pressure through the pintle nozzle on the left which exits the aircraft through a modified troop door. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda H. Johnson, July 28, 2020.Two National Guard C-130 aircraft mobilized as MAFFS air tankers
Will be on duty in Sacramento July 23
Continue readingAnnual training and certification was held for crews of three Modular Airborne FireFighting Module (MAFFS) aircraft
Photos from Peterson Air Force Base and the training event near Denver
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