That Cal Fire livery is pretty sharp

As a former contractor loadmaster with tons of drops using the MAFFS II system on USFS Tanker 116 and 118, I can tell you that the MAFFS II system drops 3,000 gallons of retardant at coverage level 8. Awesome video, best of luck to CalFire and their awesome C-130 program!

Congratulations for hittin’ the 200,000 MARK !

I have great respect for these pilots. To be effective, they must get down low, sometimes slow, in smoke and turbulence, and handle a big aircraft like a crop duster. That takes both skill and courage. They deserve the best aircraft, something well beyond the original design capabilities.

I'm glad you are covering this, there has been precious little media coverage of the upcoming fire season due to the pandemic. Thank you! -Matt

That's quite a program - very impressive. Good to know they're "zero timing" the wing boxes. Ever since the wings came off of that C-130 fire tanker years ago, you'd have to agree that is essential. We've had some significant wildfires here in Minnesota, but as a retired urban firefighter, what I dealt with was small potatoes. I have nothing but admiration and respect for those air crews and ground pounding hotshots.

Wow you could eat dinner off that floor. Oh that was TOTALLY AWESOME news that you will be returning to flight status.

Very cool !! I had been an overhaul technician for many many C-130 & L-100's from fire boxes and TD amplifiers to hydraulics and generators

Take Us on one of the C-130 flights - - >>>>

Love the C130's and the P-3's both powered by the Allison T-56 very reliable low maintenance and there are no shortages of either airframe or engines available. Smart move to convert to tankers.

It is good news to see these aircraft be brought online, I live in a heavily forested area in California Amador County we always have the threat of fire.

No corrections here from me! I just enjoyed the video and hearing about the upgrades. As a former wildland firefighter I am happy to hear these things.

This channel has sparked an interest in airplanes for me, thanks

Thanks for the tour of McClellan Tanker Base. You answered a question that has been bugging me since the early 60s! While stationed at Beale AFB as a B52 Defensive Fire Control System repair tech (that’s .50 caliber machine guns, not 🔥), we’d periodically send a bomber to IRAN. All we knew was we would put all worst condition components on the departing bomber. In return we would get back from IRAN a supposedly reconditioned bomber that was often in worse condition than the one we sent. We knew IRAN wasn’t the country Iran, and we guessed that IRAN was somewhere in Kansas. But we didn’t know that IRAN was for Inspect and Repair As Necessary. Thanks Juan.

TURBO PROP!!! Former MFE guy here! Love my 130’s, and nice to see the old 4 blade prop. I’ve heard the new electronic valve housing and composite props are a mess right now.

My Dad has many hours on the 1709 when she flew out of Kodiak. He was a flight engineer/mechanic on the H models for years. Love to see his old ride getting a new lease on life :)

Juan, Thank you very much for that report. I appreciate your expertise, professionalism, and knowledge of these aircraft and systems. Great explanation for a non-pilot/layman like myself. God bless Paul (in MA)

The Programme might be 3 Years Old but it Just Underpins What an All Important Job these People do.

Blanco, worked at HAFB Utah on the O2-A and O2-B in the late 70's in what we called crash damage, we also put F4's back together when they arrived in boxes. O2-B was fun to goof around with in the hanger as it came with an 1800 watt P.A. system, with 1800 watt Electro voice speaker mounted in the right side of the A/C. After working on the F4's the O2 A and B felt like working on a model A/C....

Really nice to hear about the 0-Time wing box. That would make me a lot more confident as a pilot, especially with the failures of the past!!

I was actually watching a youtube video earlier on the development of the Allison turboprop and the extensive testing they did on the c130

Sad to see so many old USAF bases going away...But that is the way it works,,,

Finally became a patron, it's not much and hopefully I can do more down the road. Thank you for what you do Juan.

Beautiful scenery Juan! Love the updates. Be safe and keep em coming

Good stuff, Juan...good stuff. Thanks.

Thank you Juan I appreciate your work on these videos, I watched this video just before going in for neck surgery. God bless you.

This was awesome. Thanks Juan

We got the 146s, DC-10s, and Air Tractors working hard here in Arizona fighting the several fires that started around the state.

Love your videos Juan thank you

Great video Juan!

Thanks for this information Juan

Thanks for the great job!

Probably a slip of the tongue: the T-56 is a turboprop and not a turboshaft engine. Turboshafts usually power rotorcraft and do not normally include a reduction gearbox for the power output, unlike the T-56 and other turboprops.

Awesome report Mr Browne. Thanks a million. Remind your intern hes pretty lucky to be sittin in the right seat of that 747 in your last video. I didn't know how to spell 747 when I was his age. Sal 👍👍✈️✈️🇺🇸🇺🇸

Very nice and important video series that explains air attack forest fire fighting. Before your video series all my knowledge came from the 1989 movie "Always"

I saw where cal fire bought a bunch of the new 1000 gallon Blackhawks. As well as two other cities in so-cal

Just right Juan. Wow. That's good news for CALFIRE for sure.

I'd love to have one of those props and spinners and mount it on the wall ! Beautiful works of art!

Visited that hanger and seen the new floor a few years ago, omg so beautiful. Still had the C-130's then. No wait, that's a different hanger.

How about a photo from your lead plane training days? Very informative for those of us who have only been able watch in awe as the pilots of all different types risk their necks to perform this essential service.

Great report Juan. Love the Herc, no matter as a C-130 or L-382, still a cool plane.

Sounds like you just might be the right pilot at the right time for this platform Juan. With your medical looking better, this just might be a shoe-in for you! Looking forward to seeing you as PIC or SIC soon!

Thank you for another great video keep up the good work.

Just saw a couple C-130's go over the house a couple days back. Usually they're skimming the treetops, but this time they were up quite a ways - maybe 3k feet or so. I can only imagine what a combined 18,000 HP feels like - must be extremely rewarding to firewall the levers in one of these. Good to see them getting ready for use in Cali firefighting. Definitely a perfect job for this workhorse. Thanks as always for the great info, Juan! 👍🍻

Yes it sure has changed. When I was very young I watched B-17s make runs on a brush fire near where we were camping. I probably have movies of it on film somewhere. This would have been in the 70’s the flying forts would have only been around 30 years old then

Another great video as usual

Erickson's MD-87 holds the record for highest accuracy drops. Something like 1,000 cups lined up as a target and measured against other aircraft.

Thanks Blanco !!

I spent 26 years as a loadmaster flying the venerable Herk. Taught at Little Rock the schoolhouse for 130s and retired at Elmendorf AFB. This shows just another use of the versatile Hercules from many over its very long career. They are still rolling off the production line today and have been in production longer than any other airplane to date. Thanks for showing us old Herk guys what Cal Fire is doing with them. Beautiful paint job by the way. Sure look shinier than the Air Force ones I flew.

Hell, come here to Tucson at Davis Monthan AFB, we've got hundreds of C-130's just sitting here ready for flight.

Very Cool, thanks Juan!👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

Really like those c-130 h models...allison turbo props at a an amazing engine

wow, my unit took H models to the desert during the first Gulf War... they were fresh off the line at that time!

Great looking paint scheme

Great video

The C130-H should prove to be a terrific asset for Cal Fire. I’ve often thought that the Herk would make a great fire fighting aircraft. The colour scheme looks good too, thanks for showing us around Juan. Perhaps someday you can go with them on a run and show us just what it’s like.

Another great video

Amazing! Love it

Late 2000s US Air Force scrapped the C-27 program. That led to 21 aircraft being brand new with no where to go. A deal was struck at the Flag level that the army would get 7 and the coast guard would get 14 C27 and the coast guard was to give 7 C130s to the forestry service since the wanted a couple of C27s as well. From what I understand is that the C-130s program was to big for the Forestry Services budget. I guess they went to Cal Fire.

Sounds like a job opening for JUAN!

I just love this plane info. Appreciated.

G'day Juan, Outstanding! I'm an ex-RAAF type and I worked on and in our C-130 A & E model squadrons back in the 70s. Australia was the first foreign air force to purchase the C-130 and I can tell you they might look 'ugly' to some but they are an easy aircraft to fall in love with. Like, is there anything a C-130 can't do? As most are military aircraft, the grand ol' Herc has done more good for humankind than harm (with the notable exception of the gunship variant). Australia has some horrendous bushfires on a regular basis and I reckon we should have several of these modified Hercs, that would be awesome. I hope Cal Fire hire at least one former RAAF Herc Skipper because we had a truly impressive collection of extremely qualified pilots. I'm truly enjoying your videos and, of course, I've subscribed and 'rang the bell'. Cheers, Skipper and all the best! BH

337's Looking like they could use some Paint, TLC, But glad to see they are still kicking around! One other thing that could be interesting is the fleet-wide update of the OV-10 to MT props.

C-130s have been flying out of the Santa Maria fire base here pretty regularly.

I flew into OAK friday and saw the DC10 cutting loose some retardant below me about 45m before landing. I was at FL380. Saw the lead plane just ahead of him too. Took a video with my iPhone if you'd like it? Also saw the landslide due to the earthquake but regrettably didn't snap a pic.

Better every day Sir!

I think I saw a crawl on the bottom of the screen in your previous video about the update of the crash in Pakistan referencing the number of fake licenses for commercial pilots for that airline. It was something like over 200 fake licenses.

We'll be seeing the tankless tankers here at the Chico airport for touch and go's I'm sure.....................thanks Jaun

I know a guy who used to be a C130 driver. I wonder if he is considering this gig? Heard he just got his medical cleared too.....funny thing is he lives right near Nevada County International butI don't know if there is enough runway to run this in and out of that airport however..

Very intresting thank you

C130 must be one the the best military aircraft ever designed and flown!!

Great informational video as always! My question is, where can I get one of those sweet Erickson Aero Tanker hats!!!!!!!!! Those are sweeet!!!!!!!!

Juan....!!! How in the world do you do it? Put a video up that is wonderful, inspiring, accurate and encouraging...wish I had C-130 time!

Thanks for the view

Yeah, those Titans are great to fly!

I just retired as the Airtanker Base Manager from Redding. So good to see Cal Fire was able to salvage the Forest Services failed C130 program and make it work.

Oh wow!!! Jaun , I luv the new avatar.

Thanks

Hope these new additions work well

Impressive. CALFIRE is doing amazing well. That the US Forest Service failed at getting it done is sad.

Hello Juan, Excellent Video as always. I love how you explain things so clearly to the novice. However, I have another subject I want to ask you about. I have learned about the catastrophic flooding and earthen dam failures in Michigan that burst back on May 20 2020 and I was kind of surprised that you have not even mentioned anything about iton your channel. I was hoping you could do a Juan Browne patented Debrief of what happened and how did it occur, similar to your coverage of that dam in England a few months ago. It seems the Emergency Spillways somehow failed? I wonder how was this possible? Was it a design failure or something else? Would you consider doing an episode about the Failure of the Sanford and the Edenville, Michigan Dams (located near Saginaw in Midland County) for your dam fans? Your coverage of dam related disasters has no equal, and I will forever feel uninformed until I hear the blancolirio prognosis of what really happened. I normally dont do special requests like this but I feel like the good people of Midland County are being forgotten. Thanks for all you do Juan, keep up the great work. PS A young KZfaqr named Jordan Mowbray has some good dam failure aftermath videos you may want to see. Jerry

Will always be McClellan AFB to me, too. Ditto Mather and all the others. Where did time go? Pesky wing box. Sheesh. Reminds one of C-141.

Fantastic

JUAN, Hello, nice to see CAL FIRE , got some C130H from COAST GUARD, + spares, these will use chemicals, or water ? I recall when ATC asked either AA, EAL, `to drop altitude to help out that was NO PROBLEM, I never got a ride in any ELECTRA, but a C130 out of JACKSONVILLE FL many moons ago, , stay well and thanks for the showing ,🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I want a C130. You've made the choice for me.

I'm wondering if you could do video reviews and tours of aircraft: Boeing 767, 757, Airbus A220, A320neo or interview pilots who have flown those models. It would be great to know their field performance (short runway, hot-and-high, climb performance, etc.), handling, special features, application of each aircraft type for different missions and cockpit design. All other channels have covered these aircraft from a cabin product perspective. Maybe it can help rack up views for your channel.

Having a bunch of ( and not being used) 747's out in Palmdale one would thing they could be used also... lots MORE water..... and when the brush fires start in the Malibu Hills they can sure use it.

Pretty planes!

I noticed that those H models did not have the external wing tanks with that being said as a former C1 30 flight engineer on the B model at march Air Force Base in the late 80s they did not have external wing tanks as well my question is the aircraft that had external wing tanks had a pressure reducer to the ailerons to not over stress the wings the B models with no external tanks had full hydraulic pressure so they were very maneuverable also less drag & faster Sir thank you for what you do I enjoy your channel

Another great video. Two quick questions. Does rear set of tires on the B-747 "trailer" behind the main gear or do all the tires skid sideways during a sharp turn with a full load of retardant? When you dump the retardant load doesn't the nose want to pitch up since you are now 150,000 pounds lighter? How do you compensate for the change of CG?

Those flaps are massive. What are the wing load numbers with full flaps at heaviest weight?

Did you ever see the videos of the tests of landing and taking off from the USS Forrestal?

Yep one of the worlds best most durable airplanes. Lookin really sharp especially the cockpits panels Are those Skymasters part of the program?

Juan, If your air line job does not pan out as u wish, have u thought about moving to Cal-Fire with the C-130s being your history with these and the fire industry?

That Was Cool 😎

I can remember the first air tanker drops on CDF fires and the development of the retardants the acquisition of the first helicopters acquired by CDF.

"don't want live in California because of high cost of living". That isn't the real reason Juan. You were about to say it but caught yourself. Luv ya buddy. From an Alaskan living in the "free" zone.

Strip em, rip em and PR them! You have done all the heroes work Juan. One question, do these 130's come with prior wing stresses and maintenance logs so we know their history and weaknesses? Most of of the lost ex military tankers did not come with logs because they could have flown classified missions. This wing stresses have been the Achilles heel in the military tanker fleet in my opinion.

Juan did you ever consider becoming a Cal Fire pilot?

In fire all duplications of terms and term meanings have to be eliminated, I'm sure that Juan understands this. In the case of "spotter" there is a job called a spotter and it is aboard smokejumper aircraft. They are responsible for checking air conditions in the area of where smokejumpers will make jumps. They do this with streamers that are made of a tape like material and unroll in the air. They then float down over a jump area indicated air movements/currents. The spotter is also responsible for spotting landing zones for the jumpers. They use then communicate with the pilot on where the plane should be flown for jumps. They also tell the jumpers when to jump. Spotters are very experienced jumpers and have figured out all these factors so that the jumpers land in the right places and any cargo dropped to the jumpers landing zone area gets delivered properly. I've never been around jumpers, the above is taken from conversations I've had with jumpers. No doubt they could provide a better discussion on this topic.