Lockheed C-130H (Image Credit: Coulson Aviation)As California enters what is expected to be a very busy fire season, the U.S. Forest service is turning to the past to battle future fires. The organization has announced that it has contracted for the retrofitting of seven plants to serve as firefighting air tankers.
One of the planes currently being worked on is a Lockheed C-130 Hercules being converted by aerial firefighting experts, The Coulson Group in San Bernardino, California. The plane which was built in 1981 and was most recently used by NASA, but had been sitting on static display in an air museum for the past decade.
Tank installation detail. (Image Credit: Coulson Aviation)The project to convert the long-disued plane to an FAA-compliant air tanker is a massive undertaking, requiring X-rays, magnetic particle, electromagnetic and ultrasound inspections to find cracks in metal parts, with every bolt and rivet in the plane being inspected and certified in addition to the extensive modifications to the airframe, including the installation of a 3500 gallon tank and a nearly 17 foot long drop slot in the bottom of the fuselage to rapidly dispense the tanker’s contents when it’s fighting fires.
In recent years the number of air-tankers at the U.S. Forest Service’s fleet has dwindled from more than 40 planes a decade ago to around 20 last year, which in an era of increased fire risk is a recipe for disaster. The Forest Service is now acting to reverse the decline in the fleet of aerial tankers at its disposal with additional planes to be added in the years to come.
The C-130 Hercules being worked on by Coulson is expected to be ready in July and will likely be pressed into immediate service in the skies over California.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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