FWSAR (CC130H, Buffalo, C27J, V22): Status & Possibilities

[dapaterson]

Hercs are all subject to ITAR restrictions, as I understand it. Add the age and fact that the wing boxes were taken from USCG aircraft retired due to hours and cycles that were still younger than the CAF wing boxes they replaced, and you don't necessarily have the most attractive of sales pitches.

 

[Nvlgzr]

Coulson recently acquired ex-New Zealand C130H's for conversion to firefighting planes. Top Aces could use them to aerial refuel their probe equipped Skyhawks.

Firefighting makes the most sense especially given that the western provinces don’t have enough capacity and Viking/deHavilland are years away from deliveries of additional aircraft.

 

[Good2Golf]

Firefighting makes the most sense especially given that the western provinces don’t have enough capacity and Viking/deHavilland are years away from deliveries of additional aircraft.

Firefighting from a dynamic stresses of rapid weight unload on critical components like close to end-of-life components like center wing boxes, does not make sense.

 

[armrdsoul77]

I'm thinking Coulson Aviation must be spending a lot of money refurbishing the H model airframes. The 4 recently acquired from the RNZAF saw a 60 year service life and will bring the Coulson fleet to 10 of that type.

Coulson Aviation USA Expands Airtanker Fleet with 10 C-130H Aircraft - Coulson Aviation

Largest Airtanker Company in the World Adds Four Hercules Aircraft to Its Global Aerial Firefighting Fleet THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – April 11, 2025: Coulson Aviation, the world’s largest operator of large airtankers, is proud to announce the expansion of its C-130H Hercules fleet to 10 aircraft for...

coulsonaviation.com

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The C-27J just can't get a break, seems like a good plane with crappy support.

 

[armrdsoul77]

Coulson Aviation set to acquire 10 CC-130H aircraft for firefighting - Skies Mag

"Coulson Aviation is set to acquire 10 retired CC-130H Hercules aircraft through a conditional sale from Canada’s federal government. "

"Coulson Aviation’s planned conversions will extend the operational life of these aircraft and support emergency response capabilities, including crucial aerial firefighting missions.”

 

[dapaterson]

How does airworthiness play out on a Frankenstein aircraft like that - where we bought expired USCG airframes and used their wing boxes to replace our own because they had significantly few hours / fewer takeoffs and landings ?

 

[Nvlgzr]

The C-27J just can't get a break, seems like a good plane with crappy support.

Takes me back to when the USAF was offering to sell some of theirs to RCAF and then Alenia threatened to not support them. About half of them were sent to the boneyard. That didn’t work out to well for Alenia.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

How does airworthiness play out on a Frankenstein aircraft like that - where we bought expired USCG airframes and used their wing boxes to replace our own because they had significantly few hours / fewer takeoffs and landings ?

As long as you have the paper trail in the maintenance records of what you did, where you got the parts and that you followed established maintenance procedures, it doesn’t really matter.

 

[armrdsoul77]

How does airworthiness play out on a Frankenstein aircraft like that - where we bought expired USCG airframes and used their wing boxes to replace our own because they had significantly few hours / fewer takeoffs and landings ?

At least they don't have folding wings and weren't flown off an aircraft carrier.



Conair Firecat - Wikipedia

 

[YZT580]

Takes me back to when the USAF was offering to sell some of theirs to RCAF and then Alenia threatened to not support them. About half of them were sent to the boneyard. That didn’t work out to well for Alenia.

sounds like those are the ones Australia bought. Did you listen to the video. The airplanes are OK but they are not reliable because all parts have to be bought through the U.S. as Alenia doesn't do business with a country unless they sold them the airplane I guess.

 

[YZT580]

At least they don't have folding wings and weren't flown off an aircraft carrier.

View attachment 101639

They must be 70 years old.