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C-130 News: Update on Coulson’s C-130s


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2016-12-04 Coulson.jpg

Coulson’s Tanker 131 concluded its 2016 fire season in the United States on November 30, racking up 350 hours of flight time and 520 drops for a total of 1.77 million gallons delivered over wildfires — an average of 3,404 gallons per drop.

Next on its schedule is a flight down under to Australia where it will join, at least within the same country if not the same state, its sister, Tanker 132 which has been there since September 6, 2016.

Source: http://fireaviation.com/2016/12/03/update-on-coulsons-c-130s/


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U.S air tanker Thor to stay until mid January

2016-12-15.JPG

Thor, the Hercules C130 tanker, has had his stay at Richmond RAAF Base extended for the 2016-17 bushfire season.

Emergency Services Minister, David Elliott said the NSW government had extended the contract for the Hercules C130 to stay for another month until mid-January 2017.

The large air tankers provides valuable assistance to firefighters as they battle bushfires and is staying amid predictions of challenging summer weather ahead.

So far this fire season, Thor has assisted firefighters at blazes in Cranebrook, Londonderry, Bega, Lower Hunter and the Shoalhaven. Last season, ‘Thor’ completed 96 flight operations, dropping close to 1.5 million litres of water and fire retardant. 

Thor is on loan to the NSW Rural Fire Service again from the United States. It can carry more than 15,000 litres of water at a time. Housed at Richmond the tanker can reach anywhere in the state in under an hour.

“This decision was a no-brainer,” Mr Elliott said. “We have more than 70,000 NSW RFS volunteers ready to respond when bush fires threaten lives and property. Now Thor can continue to assist them and other firefighters in both the initial attack of new fires and in building containment lines.” 

Thor has a cruise speed of 545km/h and joins the Southern Belle and the NSW Rural Fire Service’s (NSW RFS) firefighting force of more than 100 aircraft.

The government has spent $9.8 million in the trial of Thor and Southern Belle over two years to help fight bushfires.

“It’s an important asset in our firefighting arsenal,” Mr Elliot said.

NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said with hot weather expected,having support from Thor was vital.

“There is an increased grass fire threat,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said. “With the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a dryer and warmer summer, we’re encouraging everyone to make sure they take the steps needed to prepare their families, homes and properties from fire risk.

Source: http://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/4345592/alls-well-as-thor-stays-on/

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C-130Q en route to Australia

2016-12-15 C-130Q.jpg

Coulson’s Air Tanker 131, a C-130Q, is en route to Australia to begin a firefighting contract for the state of Victoria. It departed from Phoenix on December 8 and is expected to arrive in Avalon, Victoria on December 12 after flying for a total of 27 hours. These dates and the ones below are U.S. time.

Tanker 131 itinerary
Tanker 131’s itinerary. From Coulson.

In Australia it is designated as Tanker 390 and is named “Hercules”. On the way to Avalon it scheduled stops at Santa Maria (California), Kahului (Hawaii), Pago Pago, and Norfolk Island. Britt Coulson said Friday night that it had just landed at Pago Pago (NSTU).

The 84-day contract for T-131 begins December 15th.

Tanker 131 concluded its 2016 fire season in the United States on November 30, accumulating 350 hours of flight time and 520 drops for a total of 1.77 million gallons delivered over wildfires — an average of 3,404 gallons per drop.

Coulson’s other C-130 type air tanker, T-132, a C-130H, has been in New South Wales since September 6, 2016. Known as “Thor” down under, it just had its contract extended for another month and will continue to be based at Richmond RAAF base until mid-January

2016-12-15 N130FF_Pago_Pago-1.jpg

Source: http://fireaviation.com/2016/12/10/c-130q-en-route-to-australia/

 

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