Video of MAFFS training with lead planes

MAFFS approach
MAFFS approaching the drop area. Screen grab from the video.

The video below shows Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) C-130J aircraft from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing conducting training drops with lead planes. The video was uploaded to YouTube July 14, 2015, but it appears that the training occurred in April in the Angeles National Forest and in Kern County, California.

The image you see before the video begins had to have been taken years ago, since it shows the original version of the MAFFS which pumped retardant out the rear ramp. In the MAFFS2 that is used today water or retardant exits the aircraft out the left side troop door.

Jet lead plane
Jet lead plane producing smoke to mark the target for the following MAFFS air tanker. Screen grab from the video.

Beginning at 3:30 you’ll see a jet-powered lead plane. This could be the Dynamic Aviation Cessna Citation CJ, N10R, that received a Bureau of Land Management Contract in 2014. In May, 2014, Aviation Week had an interesting article about the history of Dynamic Aviation. The company also has a contract for a Beechcraft King Air E90 being used as an air attack aircraft.

Citation lead plane, N10R,
Cessna Citation lead plane, N10R, at Boise, July 19, 2014. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

On July 13 N10R flew from Boise to Fort Wainwright, Alaska at 28,000 feet and 350 knots (403 mph). Flying for about 5.7 hours in three hops, it got there considerably more quickly than the Type 3 BLM helicopter on contract, N173BH, that spent four days in June flying from Rifle, Colorado to Fairbanks.

Typos, let us know, and please keep in mind the commenting ground rules before you post a comment.

4 thoughts on “Video of MAFFS training with lead planes”

  1. i just wanted to say..and this has absolutly nothing to do with fire fighting..but i wanna share about something that happened while viewing this video,,i have a 55 inch tv i use for my monitor (its a roku tv) my cats livingroom bed (nope not spoiled)is about 10 inches in front of the tv,and 8 inches lower.she spotted the C130 in a distant view,and she leapt at the tv screen and started chattering like it was a squirrel outside!!..so ofcourse i played that section over and over….grabbed my camera to video it..and she sat down..looke at me as if to say…oh no..yer not videoing me while i have fun…and she laid down and refused to look at the video anymore…….cats!!

  2. Interesting to see the C130 without its wing tanks. Looking at the unit photos all of their aircraft are configured that way. Not a common thing for a military 130!

    1. There are 3 qualified Cal Fire Lead plane pilots. They are also to my understanding ASM platforms. The call sign is Charlie 1, 2, or 3 depending on which pilot it is.

Comments are closed.