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  • Air Force suspends C-130 firefighting operations

    The military C-130 aircraft activated to assist with the Rocky Mountain region's firefighting efforts were stood down on July 2.The fleet spent the day to get the MAFFS crews together to "reflect, reset and review," said Col. Jerry Champlin, 153rd Air Expeditionary Group commander. "We all need to

  • MAFFS Equipped C-130 Crashes in South Dakota

    At approximately 6 P.M. MDT July 1, a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System equipped C-130 aircraft supporting firefighting missions crashed in the southwest corner of South Dakota. The aircraft was supporting the efforts against the White Draw Fire.The cause of the crash is not known and the

  • Four MAFFS-equipped C-130s change staging location Monday

    At the request of the U.S. Forest Service, four of the eight military C-130 aircraft, each equipped with that agency's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System will begin operating out of the Wyoming Air National Guard's base, in Cheyenne, Monday.Since June 25, MAFFS-equipped aircraft have been

  • MAFFS crews train for mountain fire fighting scenarios

    Heat, high elevation and mountainous terrain are a combination that makes an already difficult mission that much tougher. The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System trained C-130 Hercules pilots of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron have been dealing with these conditions since they started flying

  • MAFFS crews eager to fight fire another day

    A heavy smell of smoke and a thick haze greeted members of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron as they arrived on the flightline during the early morning June 27 here to prepare the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s for another day of aerial fire-fighting. The day before saw

  • Luke reservist one of Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen

    It's been said lightning only strikes once, but that's not true for Luke. For the second time in three years, a base Airman has been named an Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year.Master Sgt. Sandra Plentzas, 944th Fighter Wing Chapel superintendent, was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding

  • Wildland fire fight presents operational, personal challenges

    The flightline here roared to life June 26 as the engines of four C-130 Hercules cranked up to begin day two of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions in Colorado. The scene was reminiscent of a NASCAR pit with aircraft landing and refueling quickly before taking flight. Today began the first full

  • Colorado wildland fire fight a Total Force effort

    Two Wyoming Air National Guard Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130s arrived here June 25 after the National Interagency Fire Center requested Department of Defense wildland firefighting support for the Rocky Mountain area.The 153rd Airlift Wing's aircraft, along with 16 personnel,

  • "Son Tay" Talon flies into history

    After more than 23,500 hours of flight and approximately 47 years in service, the MC-130E Combat Talon I known as the "Godfather" left the ground here for the last time June 22 for its ultimate mission.The aircraft with the tail number 64-0523 took off for its final resting place - a special