As part of the expansion of its aerial firefighting fleet, Canadian company Coulson Aviation confirmed on April 11 the acquisition of four C-130H Hercules transport aircraft recently retired by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), in a deal valued at 9 million New Zealand dollars. With this acquisition, Coulson’s fleet will grow to a total of ten aircraft dedicated to fighting wildfires across North America and other regions around the world in need of support.
In a global context where climate change poses a threat as urgent as armed conflicts, wildfires have increased in both frequency and intensity. This growing threat demands enhanced response capabilities, and platforms like the C-130H Hercules have emerged as one of the most effective tools to meet these challenges.
The C-130H aircraft, as used by Coulson, stand out for their capacity to carry between 4,000 and 5,000 gallons (15,000 to 19,000 liters) of fire retardant per drop, allowing them to cover vast areas in a single pass. Their extended range enables long-duration missions, and they are capable of taking off and landing on short or unprepared runways—a key feature for operations in remote or hard-to-access regions. Moreover, their performance has far surpassed that of helicopters and smaller aircraft, making them a strategic asset in large-scale fires like those that frequently affect California, Australia, and the Amazon.
In the words of Britton Coulson, President and COO of the company: “This acquisition marks another significant milestone for Coulson Aviation and the future of aerial firefighting. These aircraft continue to enhance our ability to respond quickly and effectively to wildfires around the globe—saving lives, protecting communities, and preserving vital natural and economic resources. With the addition of these four C-130Hs to our fleet, we reaffirm our commitment to leading the industry with the world’s most capable and highest-performing large airtankers.”
The decision to expand the fleet also comes in response to the gradual aging of many aircraft traditionally used in firefighting missions, such as the P-3 Orion, DC-10, and the Boeing 747 Supertanker—the latter retired in 2019—which are reaching the end of their operational lives. The addition of the retired New Zealand C-130Hs will allow Coulson to replace outdated platforms with more robust, versatile, and easily modifiable aircraft, especially considering that the company already operates other Hercules variants like the C-130Q/L-382 (civilian versions of the Hercules), adapted for aerial firefighting missions using systems such as MAFFS II and RADS-XXL.
The aircraft, which were replaced in the RNZAF by the more modern C-130J-30 Super Hercules, will be transferred to Coulson’s base in Thermal, California, where they will undergo a complete conversion and modernization process to prepare them for their new role. Notably, Coulson is one of the few companies worldwide operating specially modified Hercules aircraft for firefighting duties, with a strong reputation for both initial attack and extended support operations.
In the words of Britton Coulson:“We’ve all seen the trend of increasingly intense and destructive fires in recent years, beginning with Lahaina (Maui) in 2023, followed by Malibu (California) in 2024/2025. On days marked by extreme fire behavior, it’s the large assets like the C-130 and CH-47 that can truly make the difference.”
You may also like Canada will reconsider the purchase of fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jets due to tensions with the U.S.
