The MAFFS can be installed on a C-130 aircraft in approximately two hours and can discharge up to 3,000 U.S. gallons (11,000 liters) of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds.
U.S. Air National Guard pilots fly a C-130 equipped with the Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) during wildfire suppression operations in California.
The MAFFS can be installed on a C-130 aircraft in approximately two hours and can discharge up to 3,000 U.S. gallons (11,000 liters) of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds.
The C-130J Super Hercules aircraft drops retardant over the Hughes Fire in Castaic, California, Jan. 22, 2025. By David Caraccio and California National Guard
Equipped with airborne fire-fighting systems, C-130 Super Hercules planes are flying missions over the wildfires in Southern California that started earlier this month. California Air National Guard video shared Wednesday shows a pilot’s point-of-view as the aircraft flies over and drops retardant on the Hughes Fire in Castaic, near Los Angeles. The planes can “discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or they can make variable drops,” the California Air National Guard said in a description of the video. Once a load is discharged, the aircraft can be refilled in less than 12 minutes. As of Thursday morning, firefighters north of Los Angeles were racing to contain the brush fire that quickly burned more than 10,000 acres and forced the temporary closure of parts of Interstate 5. Red flag warnings signifying dangerous fire weather conditions were in effect for much of Southern California on Thursday as wind gusts of up to 65 mph were predicted.
By David Caraccio
Updated January 23, 2025 1:53 PM
David Caraccio The Sacramento Bee
David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.
Commets
Superb flying sklls manoeuvering such big heavy lumbering airframes, which don't have snap-roll aileron response like a fighter or aerobatic plane! Lots of anticipation required for all controls including those mighty Allison engines. Kudos to the many skilled crews with their eyes constantly looking out the windows on swivels! Stay safe everyone!
Hi guys. I'm on older retired pilot. Did your generation fly with these 'funny' auto call outs from the beginning of your career? Would probably find it distracting to hear 'too low gear', 'stall', 'altitude' etc all the time just because I'm flying a mission. Do you think it is distracting? Or is it increasing your situational awareness? Have good flights 👍😎
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