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Coulson Aviation buys retired RNZAF C-130H aircraft
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has finalised a sale of the four remaining C-130H Hercules aircraft to Coulson Aviation (US) firefighting company.
The aircraft will be prepared for flight and flown to Coulson’s Maintenance Base in Thermal, California by a commercial crew over the next few months.
Wayne Coulson, president and chief executive of Coulson Group, says they are looking forward to integrating these aircraft into their existing fleet of six C-130H Hercules.
“Coulson is honoured to acquire the NZDF’s four C-130H’s, solidifying Coulson’s position as the largest non-government C-130H operator worldwide.
“This acquisition strengthens our commitment to providing world-class aerial firefighting solutions and expanding our operational capabilities globally. We look forward to continuing our mission of protecting communities and natural resources with these proven, versatile aircraft.”
He adds in a Coulson Aviation news release;
“These aircraft continue to enhance our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to wildfires around the world—saving lives, protecting communities, and safeguarding critical natural and economic resources. With the four additional C-130Hs in our fleet, we’re reaffirming our commitment to lead the industry with the most capable, high-performance large airtankers in the world.”
Following a substantial upgrade and conversion programme the aircraft will be deployed around the world as fire-fighting tankers.
Conversions
Coulson will begin conversions later this year in close coordination with the FAA. As part of Coulson’s vertically integrated approach—spanning aircraft acquisition, engineering, modification, operations, and maintenance—the entire process will be completed in-house. This model allows for rapid deployment and tailored solutions to meet the evolving demands of wildfire suppression around the globe.
“We have all observed the trend of increasingly intense and destructive fires over the past few years, beginning with Lahaina, Maui in 2023, followed by Malibu, California in 2024/2025. On days marked by extreme fire behavior, it’s the large assets like the C-130s and CH-47s that can truly make a difference,” said Coulson.
According to a Royal New Zealand Air Force news release, having served the NZDF for 60 years, the five-strong RNZAF fleet of Hercules clocked up more than 155,000 accident-free flying hours and nearly 100,000 landings at home and around the world.
The C-130H Hercules aircraft operated from Europe to the southwest Pacific, from Afghanistan to Antarctica. They left a legacy of providing support to New Zealanders and our neighbours in all kinds of environments.
One aircraft has already been delivered to the Air Force Museum in Christchurch where it will go on public display.
Retardant Aerial Delivery System
The C-130 Hercules, equipped with a Coulson RADS-XXL 4,000 US Gallon roll-on roll-off tanking system, is one of the world’s most powerful aerial firefighting aircraft due to its range, versatility, and suppression ability per drop.
Coulson Aviation’s ground-breaking Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) is half the cost of competing systems, and one-sixth the weight, making it the most powerful retardant delivery system in the world. Even more astonishing, it requires no additional crew or equipment.
Our controller and cockpit interface provides operators with real-time flow rate adjustment technology, resulting in superior drop zone coverage and accuracy.
As a testament to the effectiveness of our RADS-XXL systems, they have been selected by the USAF for deployment on their Hercules C-130 aircraft fleet operated by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in California (CAL FIRE).
Photo credit: Crown Copyright 2023, New Zealand Defence Force and Coulson Aviation
