ImageGallery

C-130 MAFFS-equipped aircraft

CAL FIRE employees load retardant into the MAFFS system of an Air National Guard C-130, designated "MAFFS 8 out of Reno, Nev." July 13, 2021, from CAL FIRE Air Tanker Base, McClellan Park, Calif. The Air Force C-130 MAFFS-equipped aircraft, as requested by the National Interagency Fire Center and approved by the Secretary of Defense, are providing unique fire-fighting capabilities. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) are the U.S. Forest Service’s portable fire-retardant delivery systems can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to convert them into air tankers when needed. They can discharge their entire load of up to 3,000 gallons of retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide, or make variable drops. Once the load is discharged, and the aircraft land at the tanker base, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

PHOTO BY: Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macombe
VIRIN: 210713-Z-WU657-999.JPG
FULL SIZE: 1.99 MB
Additional Details

CAMERA

NIKON D500

LENS

18.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-6.3

APERTURE

16

SHUTTERSPEED

1/125

ISO

200

IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

Read More

This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.