Air Assets

CAL FIRE & COULSON AIR ASSETS

The first operational airtanker was developed in Willows, by the Willows Flying Service, in 1955, at the request of the Fire Control Officer for the Mendocino National Forest (MNF). A Boeing Stearman 75 "Caydet" Agricultural Aircraft was modified with a 170-gallon tank at the Willows airport. This Aircraft, N75081, became the first registered free fall airtanker in the history of aviation. The first air drop was made on the Mendenhall Fire on August 12, 1955, on the MNF.

In 1956, seven agricultural aircraft were modified and formed the first operational airtanker squadron in the United States. Piloted by local aviators, this squadron operated out of the Willows Airport fighting wildfires throughout California. Initially, plain water was used as the fire suppressant. However, it was soon discovered that most of the water evaporated before reaching the fire. The practice was adopted of adding chemicals to the water to inhibit evaporation. Borate was one of the first chemicals used, hence the derivation of the term borate bomber.

In 1959, heavy airtankers, capable of carrying 2,000 gallons of fire retardant, were providing an effective tool in controlling wildfires. Today, the use of Single Engine Airtankers (SEATs) and Large Airtankers have become a staple for wildland fire suppression.

Content used with permission from the Early Aviators website.

COULSON AVIATION AIR ASSETS

CALFIRE AIR ASSETS

CAL FIRE’s world-renowned aviation program responds to thousands of wildland fires throughout California each year. CAL FIRE’s current aviation fleet includes Grumman S-2T Airtankers, Bell UH-1H Super Huey Helicopters, Sikorsky S-70i Helicopters, North American OV-10A (& 1 D Model) Bronco Air Tactical Aircraft and C-130 Hercules Airtankers. These aircraft, highly skilled pilots, and aviation support staff are strategically located throughout California at our 14 air tanker bases, 10 CAL FIRE helitack bases and one CAL FIRE/San Diego County Sheriff helitack base. Aircraft can reach the most remote State Responsibility Area (SRA) fires in approximately 20 minutes, with the goal of keeping 95% of fires at 10 acres or less. CAL FIRE’s fleet of more than 60 fixed and rotary wing aircraft make it the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world.

CALFIRE & FEDERAL Fire Agency Aircraft Numbering System

Here is a list of Federal/State aircraft numbering:

100 series - Large Air Tankers (LAT's)

200 series - Water Scoopers

300 series - No standard Convention

400 series - No standard Convention

500 series - USFS Region 5 Copters

600 series - CALFIRE aircraft (Rotary and some fixed wing)

700 series - CWN (Call When Needed) Type 1 copters/heitankers

800 serise - Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs)

900 series - Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT's)

CALFIRE Number System

600 - 619 CALFIRE HAWKS

620 - 629 CAL FIRE Type II Copters (UH-1H)

630 - 639 Reserved for Type III's (Bell 407, Astars etc)

640 - 649 Intel Platforms

650 - 659 ASM's Spare AA's. ATGS Training Aircraft

690 - 699 Spare Helitenders

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) are portable 3,000 gallon fire retardant delivery systems that can be inserted into military C-130 transport planes, temporarily converting them into firefighting airtankers.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has 8 MAFFS capable C-130 aircraft designated for operational firefighting use, provided by:

146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard Port Hueneme
152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard , Reno
153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne
302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force base, Colorado

CANADA AIR CL-415 SUPER SCOOPER

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