146th Airlift Wing is currently the only organization in the world utilizing the new MAFFS 2 units on the C-130J platform
Taken on Aug. 29, 2017 the incredible picture in this post shows a C-130J Hercules, equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), from the Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing (AW), following a U.S. Forest Service lead plane under a large column of smoke preparing to drop retardant on the Pier Fire southeast of Fresno, California, August 29, 2017.
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves have been assisting U.S. Forest Service wildfire suppression efforts out of Fresno Air Tanker Base since Aug. 10, 2017. Together they have accomplished more than 200 drops and 530,000 gallons of retardant this season.
The 146th AW is a combat ready organization prepared to support U.S. and allied forces in the event of a national military contingency. As the California National Guard, the wing may also be called upon to provide disaster response, humanitarian relief, and large scale aerial firefighting capabilities to the state and the nation. The wing’s designated wartime mission is to provide general purpose and intra-theater airlift of personnel and materiel, normally into improved airports, with optional delivery by airdrop (payload descending to a drop zone by parachute) or airland (landing on short, unimproved airstrips under combat conditions). The unit aircraft can also be configured for combat delivery of paratroops, aero-medical evacuation, photo reconnaissance, and large scale aerial fire fighting with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS).
The 146th AW is currently the only organization in the world utilizing the new MAFFS 2 units on the C-130J platform, making it a highly capable and valuable resource in the fire fighting industry.
Photo credit: Tech. Sgt. Jeff Allen
