USAF MAFFS C-130 Wildfire Training over Srn AZ

[FLANO]

US Military MAFFS (Modular Aerial Fire Fighting System) C-130's are training over Southern AZ.

MAFFS-1, -4, and -5 are currently training over the northern edge of the Santa Rita Mountains.
MAFFS-2 and -3 are currently training to the east of the Rincon Mountains, possibly near the Dragoon area.

Aircraft are staging from Tucson International Airport (TIA).

Great backyard view !

Training:
122.575mhz - Over Santa Ritas
122.216mhz - E of Rincons

TIA:
125.10mhz - TRACON
118.30mhz - Tower

John
SE of Tucson

[trixwagen]

Thanks, but I'm just getting a lot of static on those frequencies. Maybe its time for a better antenna.

[FLANO]

MAAFS-1 through -8 are here and are operating out of the USFS hangar in the NW area of Tucson International Airport. Last time they were here, I believe they trained for a week or two. Good time to catch these guys and gals while you can.

They are working in the "Little Rincon", "Fagan-North", and "Whetstone-South" areas today.

They have been working with the following aircraft:
Bravo-3
Bravo-35 - Kingair-38V
Lead-19
Lead-25 - Kingair-40P
Lead-49
Lead-57
Lead-88 - Kingair-181Z
Photo-1
Photo-2

Frequencies:
122.225mhz - Leads and MAAFS (Little Rincon)
122.425mhz - Leads and MAAFS (Whetstone-South)
122.575mhz - Leads and MAAFS (Fagan-North)
123.975mhz - Tanker Base at TIA and Air-to-Air Coordination
166.675mhz - Photo Coordination for aircraft on 122.575mhz
166.725mhz/131.8PL - MAAFS MOCC at TIA
168.25mhz/131.8PL - Unknown MAAFS Ground Coordination
168.65mhz/110.9PL - Tucson Flight Following with training aircraft (and other live response aircraft)

I was able to photograph all but MAAFS-5. He took-off, just after I left the area :<

[aprswatcher]

This is my post from another group I belong to:
The 4 MAFFS Units are:
302nd AW (AFRES) from Peterson AFB, CO (my old unit) MAFFS 2 & 5
153rd AW (ANG) from Cheyenne, Wyoming MAFFS 1 & 3
146th AW (ANG) from Charlotte, NC
145th AW (ANG) from Port Hueneme, Calif {flying J models}
The other 3 units are flying H-3's.
Here is a link to the 302nd AW site, it contains 2 short videos of the MAFFS mission, the first shows aircraft 93-7314 (MAFFS 5) flying for the 302nd's video, this aircraft is now assigned to the 153rd in Cheyenne. Haven't really been able to understand how AFRES transferred 4 H-3's to the ANG last year. The second video is a test fire with water of the new MAFFS II units, they now dispense the retardant out thru the paratroop door. No more retardant inside tha back of the plane. It takes numerous manhours of cleaning in the ramp and door areas to get all the retardant out once MAFFS season is over.

302nd Airlift Wing - Peterson AFB, Colo. - Home
Might want to check this out fairly soon as this page will change.
73, Rex

[FLANO]

Thanks Rex,

As soon as I download my photos from the camera, I'll up a couple up here too.

I know that they are taking all kinds of video footage of these aircraft during the training. The Photo guys are asking for all kinds of flight profiles. I would love to see their footage