MAFFS 7

MAFFS 7. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System. In the early 1970's, a major fire burned into Long Beach, CA, destroying hundreds of homes. In response Congress created the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS), a joint effort between the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Forest Service and the US Department of Defense (DOD), to serve as emergency backup resources to the civilian air tanker fleet in wildfire suppression., The USDA Forest Service owns the MAFFS equipment and supplies the retardant. The DOD provides C-130 aircraft, pilots, maintenance, training and support personnel to fly wildfire suppression missions. The USDA Forest Service reimburses the military for all costs associated with MAFFS per the Economy Act., The MAFFS 7 call sign has been permanently retired by the USDA Forest Service., Left Sidebar:, In Honor. The first crash in MAFFS history occurred July 1, 2012, 6:30 p.m. with a crew of six, resulting in four fatalities. We honor these men of the 145th Airlift Wing of Charlotte, NC and their service, Pilot Lt. Col. Paul K. Mikeal , Pilot Maj. Joseph M. McCormick , Navigator Maj. Ryan S. David , Flight Engineer Senior MSgt. Robert S. Cannon, All four crew members who perished in the crash had flown from Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, CO never to return to their home base and families in North Carolina. The two surviving crew members, Loadmasters , Chief MSgt. Andrew M. Huneycutt , MSgt. Joshua R. Marlowe , received extensive injuries and we honor their continued sacrifice in this tragedy., Right:, Legacy MAFFS were used for 30 years and carried 2,700 gallons of retardant. The replacement MAFFS II carries 3,000 gallons and can discharge this 28,000 pound load in less than five seconds from an altitude of 150 feet through a discharge tube located in place of the left rear paratroop door., The tank system can be installed in a C-130 aircraft in approximately two hours without structural modifications and convert them into air tankers. The MAFFS unit can be refilled and the plane airborne again in less than 20 minutes time., Participants of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems program are: , Air Force Reserve Command , ·302nd Airlift Wing, Colorado Springs, CO , Air National Guard Units , ·145th Airlift Wing, Charlotte, NC , ·146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands, CA , ·153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, WY, Each wing is required to have five certified crews for each MAFFS unit and each has two MAFFS units.