C-130 MAFFS Firefighting Training April 2018 McClellan Field, Ca.

[@chrisconley8105]

Jaun, your video's are exceptionally intelligent, informed and interesting. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

I had a couple C-130's skim the treetops right over my house a couple years back. They were MOVIN'!! I hear those Rolls engines are 4,500HP each? IMPRESSIVE!! That would explain the Earth-shaking ROAR as they flew by. By the time I heard them and looked in their direction, they were already overhead! My security camera caught the giant shadow zipping by, as wide as my lawn. A goosebump & pride-inducing experience, for sure! GREAT reporting Juan! Thanks for the inside view - first time I've ever seen how fire units operate. May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform. THANK YOU ALL for your service!!

[@txpacket]

Props to ALL of our folks in the MAFFS units! Love watching those folks launch here from Peterson AFB... I know they’re off to save someone’s life/home/property. PLEASE take a moment and watch Juan’s flyovers from our 2017 CA fire season. You can DEFINITELY see what taking some time to do some fire mitigation can do to save your home/property! Doing this also helps our fire fighters be as efficient as possible when faced with a fire in your area! Thank you Juan for this! As always!!

[@wornoutwrench8128]

I have worked fighting fire on the coastal forests of British Columbia. I got to work on fires that the Martin Mars were dumping water on... WOW! Thanks to all the pilots and crews of the aerial tankers, they do one hell of a job. Lots of skill involved there. Flying through smoke, in canyons and such. You guys are hero's!

[@drivennomad7889]

I spent many cold rainy nights and blazing hot afternoons on that flightline back in the early 70's. Crew Chief on the EC-121 Connies. Thanks for the video, brings back many memories. Nice to see that wonderful facility pressed into service for such a critical mission.

[@gerardjohnson2106]

Totally AMAZING reporting. Another niche of piloting. You showed your respect for their level of expertise. I believe those pilots are just as amazed and respectful with your command of the 777. Must have been a great day for all.

[@blancolirio]

Gerard Johnson it was like old home week with folks I haven't seen in 18 years.

[@ronbutler6502]

WOW AS A FORMER C-130 CREW CHIEF I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE "BEST" AIRCRAFT IN THE USA I WAS ON A MODEL 3 BLADED PROP GUNSHIP SNOOPY OUT OF NAHA AFB ON OKINAWA 1966-1970.....374TH OMS...LOVED THAT PLAY...RON

[@richardwalker5167]

I spent a few years in the early 80's on McClellan, looking after the buildings (HVAC) with only a few visits to the flight line. I'm encouraged to see the airstrip and hanger facilities being put to good use. I'm an advocate of peacetime missions for the military, so seeing the modules that can be added and removed from a C-130 ... so a peacetime mission can be served without sacrificing readiness... is very satisfying. Thank you for your reports.

[@jamesallen8838]

Fantastic reporting. Keep them coming. Thanks Juan

[@richardburguillos3118]

Another amazing report. Always learn something new watching your reports. All these years and I never knew. Heroes in the air helping to fight and control these fires. What a commitment.

[@daleannharsh8295]

I'm even more impressed with those crews now that I know what it takes to get them qualified to be over that fire and how much work they go through to stay there. Thanks Juan!

[@randallparker8477]

My wife watched this with me... we both enjoyed your work very much, (I enjoy them all). She said, "He's the Huell Howser of the air!" This one proves it, thanks for what you do.

[@potskifilms]

Yet another excellent film Juan, taking us to something we normally wouldn't get to see. Any form of firefighter is a star in my eyes; they have everyone's respect and admiration. This though has really shown the skills level of the airborne guys. Thankyou

[@renegade44040]

I know this is serious business but those two airman each carrying a case of bottled water gave me a chuckle cause all I could imagine is seeing water bottles being tossed out of an airplane at the fire. In light of that this was very informative and deserves a nod to you for taking the time to gives us all a glimpse of what goes up during fire season. Thank you Juan.

[@russell3380]

Exactly where my mind went as well, lol.

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

They keep the wrapper on to keep a tight pattern all the way down to the ground.

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

Tuber.. then the props would turn the water into a cooling mist.. I see..

[@kbeck4660]

Oh my I miss the C-130. Being a prior c-130 engine mechanic in the air force the c-130 has a soft spot in my heart.

[@hardrockuniversity7283]

I agree with Chris below. You do a very good job of giving detail without being boring. Thank you.

[@craignehring]

Great report... I must say I loved working on the C-130's, one brute of a plane

[@efromhb]

Great to see my parents old unit, the 146th noted in your video. They flew C-97s back then out of the original base at VNY.

[@jackruby1137]

To have acquired the skills necessary to do that job is to be commended. What fantastic pilots they must be. My hats off to them.

[@phantomf4g304]

Juan, great work as usual sir. I work at McClellan Park and our loading dock backs up to the tarmac so I get to watch a lot of this on a daily basis. Keep up the great work.

[@bendixGg]

Great to see this wonderful aircraft still serving this industry so well, have experience with the C130 E, very enjoyable!

[@SBHSGA]

love the control input and delay when the aircraft responds. very cool!

[@CaptainPetrolburner]

Nice video sir. I'm one of the USFS Leadplane pilots and I'd like to answer a few of the questions I saw several times in the comments below. The USFS uses King Air 200GT and C90GT aircraft as Leadplanes. CalFire uses the OV-10 Bronco, BLM has a few King Air 200, and the state of Alaska uses an Aero Commander 1000. Glass panel vs 6 pack? The C90GT has the Collins 84 EFIS, basically a six pack with glass tubes for the attitude indicator and HSI, while the 200GT you show has the Collins proline 21. I'm about 50/50 on the airplanes as a whole, but in a perfect world I'd take the avionics panel from the C90GT and the power, fuel, capacity, speed, visibility and pressurization from the 200GT. Airspeed and altitude at a glance still seems much easier from round dials. For what it's worth, I fall in the category of millennials, so I'm allegedly supposed to prefer the glass.

[@cntslesfabrication]

Thanks for doing this for all of us. I was training to become a firefighter 11 year's ago when a drunk driver hit me head on split my head wide open from front to back, broke 6 in my neck and 15 in my back. My uncle was the Captain of the Heavy Rescue truck dispatched to the accident and I was still awake and talking to him but I was so FD up and bloody he didn't know it was his nephew until my mom his sister arrived at the scene while they were still cutting the car apart to transport me. Thanks for everything you do for us I truly appreciate it be safe

[@marcs990]

CaptainPetrolburner Thanks for you’re great response, I’m the same as you, I prefer the round dials for cockpit scan, I find when glass u have to read and take a moment to digest the data, but on a high workflow situation, u just look at needles n scan thinking, yup, in the right area etc.....kind of a second nature thing once u r familiar. The screen glare also bugs me, I’m from the uk & managed to get a transfer to rotary in 1998, since then I’ve always preferred gauges to glass screens for a 6 pack.

[@claytonsmith1063]

You look like you've been working out Juan... Good Job! You're looking Right, Steady and Trail Ready!!!

[@thecasper911]

Juan excellent report, I hope you are able to continue to shine light on this overlooked public safety apparatus.

[@johnp5026]

So this explains why I have been seeing a steady flow of C-130`s over Lincoln heading towards McClellan all week long. Very nice avionics in the King Air B200GT there too ....

[@abelincoln95]

Brother Juan- Thanks for taking the time to post this video.. Very informative, indeed....

[@fletcher3913]

Whatever the topic, you always make it informative and interesting​. Thanks Juan.

[@papecat]

Great report, haven't been accustomed to seeing so many USAF C-130s flying overhead near sacramento

[@grandpajim329]

WOW !!! & AWESOME !!!! What a fantastic report, and that video closing out the report puts us right on top of that ridge, and those lone trees at the top !!!! Just had to watch that entrance and closing ...AWESOME !!!! WE JUST CAN'T COMPREHEND THE DANGER THOSE BOYS ARE IN.....

[@Jules-6022]

Very cool, loved this, thx Juan! Awesome work by all fire fighting aircrews!

[@redjaden367]

Very cool! Thanks for another awesome article!

[@mikercflyer7383]

Great video I will forward it to my son he is a fireman captain in Rancho Cordova and will appreciate your report.

[@poppopscarvinshop]

That looks like a Fun Ride! Thanks Juan! Outstanding!

[@bruceirvinschindler]

It's good to see the other end of the MAFFS training. I was in the Wyoming National Guard.

[@Melanie_CraftMama]

Very cool! I hope we don’t see another fire season like we did last year. We were out at McClellan last October and saw CalFire constantly taking off and landing. Very cool to see but also sad because of the circumstances. We’re in Elk Grove and this last weekend my son and i saw a smaller and larger plane flying within very close proximity to each other. Looks like they were heading toward McClellan or Mather. My son was worried they might clip each others wings. It was a interesting sight. Thanks for sharing!!

[@ShulerBurton]

Very Informative video. Thanks for the awesome work!

[@MrPetrvershinin]

Next good lecture !!! Thanks for your exclusive "club" !!!

[@andrewkirwin6629]

Another great video Juan thanks

[@roblowery9076]

The gas looks nice. I trained on a 172 Garmin glass unit.... loved it

[@LawnsAndBeers]

I work at The Channel Islands Air National Guard base. I was wondering where they went, and now I know. Those MAFFS pilots are pretty amazing!

[@martybunyan12]

Awesome reporting as always Juan!! Always looking forward to the next one!!

[@wb6she]

Thanks again for all the info.. love your videos..

[@1945thom]

you're one of my faves, Juan..

[@oldschoolmoto]

always look forward to your vids so much good info on so many things thanks juan bout time get the ktm out snows melting fast thumbs up

[@BerndFelsche]

So sweet. Great job. P.S. the tone of that altitude warning is very calming.

[@dougkathydavies3024]

I worked on a number of major forest fires when I was with the BC Forest Service. I worked in the radio control center dispatching aircraft, mostly helicopters, and had to keep that straight as well as take traffic from the fire crews on the ground. There were at least three radios going simultaneously so keeping everything straight was a huge challenge.

[@makemyday2560]

WOW Juan, Great story and info..!! Tanks Alot

[@razorqueen775]

Good info. Been wondering why this big plane has been flying over my house east of McClellan non stop this week. Glad it's not war time stuff! Thanks!

[@ramosel]

Razor Queen yup, me too. Had to come down off the hill to an appointment in Sac and saw the Bleed-air Blimps flying all over.

[@blancolirio]

"Four Fans of Freedom"!!

[@razorqueen775]

blancolirio Yep!! Amen!!

[@ramosel]

Yet another Kelly Johnson workhorse!

[@larrymiller1380]

Love these vids I was with the F4 phantoms in Vietnam

[@cessnapilot8656]

Another really great video, excellent explanation of what these crew have to do to qualify. I think the lead pilots have the toughest job to lead the drop aircraft in and keep everyone safe. I would imagine that it is rough ride in with all the heat giving a lot of extra lift then clearing the ridge and losing it takes a skilled hand to manage it all. Thank you it was very informative

[@lipadier]

Utterly informative channel. Great stuff!

[@dannyholt105]

Very interesting Juan! Working for the Florida Park Service as a Park Ranger, we frequently perform prescribed fires as well as respond to wildfires. I found this extremely interesting. Thanks for the great information about my brothers above my head. Cheers, Dan

[@kenclark9888]

Juan great as always my friend!!! I love the King Air! Been flying a 350 and it’s a good one! I’d love to do some flying with the fire guys such a good mission.

[@demoitgroup9532]

Awesome to watch. I love the sound track too. Very good video editing. Props bro

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

I worked on the helicopters at McClellan in 1979. They had some WC-135's that were equipped to sniff the air for radioactive residue from any clandestine bomb tests.

[@chrisgossman6512]

Thanks Juan for another Fantastic report. I am always looking for the you tube alert on your channel.

[@Doxymeister]

How cool is that? Thank you Juan!

[@GeorgeStAmour]

Thanks for another great vid

[@kevinpenner7125]

Thanks, very informative, Juan.

[@chriholt]

The shot of the King Air at 12:32 was awesome!

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

It was sort of freaking me out to see the pilot looking side-back while the plane was gliding just above tree level. Wow!!!!

[@blancolirio]

Yes, look where you are going, not what's right in front of you. Same for mororcycles. I thought that was a cool perspective too.

[@therealboofighter]

The co-pilot is looking forward.

[@skycop56]

Yes I learned a lot. Thanks. These crews are flying some very risky missions down low and slow in some very rough turbulence. I hope they are getting hazardous duty pay at least. They earn it.

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

The T-39s that were based there would always wear out the right tire first because of the tight turn they would make to park. That building behind Juan is where I used to work in 1979.

[@blancolirio]

obsolete professor wow! Lotsa great history at McClellan.

[@stevegps]

Excellent!! Thank you.

[@TestingPyros]

Did you know that George Vanderbilt started the National Forestry Service? He had the leader of the Black Forest come over and set up shop in Brevard, NC. That's why Brevard is called "The Cradle of Forestry".

[@russell3380]

That was great! Ty.

[@chriswikeen3743]

So everyone knows, not trying to contradict Jaun, the lead plane is flown by a dedicated pilot and the ATGS (air tactical group supervisor) flies as the passenger. That person in the passenger seat (ATGS) directs the fire fighting aircraft from the front seat of the aircraft while the lead plane pilot flies the plane. This is how the 6 different radios are handled. It would be a very difficult task to fly, operate radios and direct all aerial firefighting efforts. I am g,ad there are two people in the cockpit when I'm working a wild fire. Keep up the good work Jaun, enjoyed the video presentation.

[@paulevasmith1082]

Great job very informative thanks.

[@haroldolafcecil3934]

Nice t-shirt! Truly enjoy your reports

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Harold! Harold Olaf Cecil- Owner of Giant Loop Moto where we all get our great motorcycle adventure packing gear. Check it out here-www.giantloopmoto.com/ and get a T-shirt too!

[@nashguy207]

thanks for sharing. this was very educational and interesting juan.

[@gizmogoose.2486]

_Another un-wasted 14 Minutes with _*_Juan_*_ _*_Browne_*_ in the _*_Real_*_ _*_World_*_ !!!_

[@tracygallaway886]

Thanks Juan, I'll be watching the C-130 traffic outta Reno this summer. I live 3/4 mile west of the Reno runways, I'll be watching for the red retardant nozzle in the port aft door! thanks!!

[@patmald]

Awesome I was wondering why so many Cal Fire aircrafts were flying over my house this past week. *edit* PS that C-130 is a thing of beauty PSS Will you be at the Beale Air & Space Expo on Sat.?

[@moose7472]

Used to fly 2 & 5 KCOS. Miss the folks, miss the mission. But pastures change.

[@papioscarw]

Having been a fire fighter with NDF and also flown hundreds of hours in C130 on the ice (Antarctica) don't even recognize the cockpit boy has things have changed. You have to love the Nev ANG. Still miss the F4 tho.

[@blancolirio]

Yep!

[@TASCO26]

C130 is one of my favorite prop planes next to the B25 Mitchell.

[@johnfry9010]

Like all professionals , He makes it look easy !

[@geraldshultz4271]

GOD BLESS our service men and CalFire pilots.

[@PacificAirwave144]

Its great the Cal-Fire guys have these guys in reserve! Don't want to say it but the late rains in Northern California this year could make the new brush a real hazard in a couple months :-/

[@Sarge084]

I left the RAF before the J series entered service, I'd love to look over one. I really would like to see over the A400M too, maybe they'll be an open day at RAF Brize Norton soon. Hey Juane, how about using your journalist credentials to get a tour of these aircraft at Brize, I'll come along as your gopher!

[@deanerichardson8930]

How's it feel to sit in a new King. Don't feel alone on not recognizing the glass cockpit, I was flying crew chief on the C-130 D models (the original ski birds) in the 1960's out of Elmendorf AFB.Does an IP MAFFS also have to be a standard IP?

[@MrEddieG420]

Cockpit looks like a C-130 J super Herc seen at 1:46 with the 6 bladed props. Most of the others look like the older H models with the 4 bladed props.

[@willracer1jz]

You are correct, the 146th Airlift Wing out of Channel Islands ANGS flys J-models for MAFFS. Our oldest J-model are about four or five years newer than the H-3s Colorado Springs fly.

[@geomodelrailroader]

it is needed because California is still suffering droughts and the droughts are melting the wax in the trees and making it flammable. One drop of pine wax in the sun, cheat grass igniting, or a bolt of lightning is enough to cause a fire. This is why we need those MAFFS bomber in the air at all times to put it out.

[@pamelatify]

Ohhhh. No WONDER the planes were buzzing so low over my house today! I thought my windows were going to rattle off the walls.

[@joesilva4479]

Awesome video on fire by air...Joe Silva Eureka Ca Thanks

[@duanelundgren7985]

Thanks for keeping the Politics out of a great presentation! Even a twin engine Beechcraft is probably at the limits of USFS operational capability... certainly not heavy four engine turboprops. The government certainly has spent a bunch on firefighting... the civil operators were not doing badly until Politics entered. Thanks Juan!!!

[@RM.....]

Awesome.

[@Mekratrig]

Thanks for the tour, Juan. A couple of questions: Aren’t there a few really big converted passenger aircraft doing drops now? I think one is an old DC10. Maybe also an early model 747? Are they part of the Fire Service, or private For Hire outfits? And if you get a chance, would love to see a Juan Brown Report on how some of the tankers are able to skim across a body of water to fill their tanks - without getting slowed down below take off speed, I imagine that must be a pretty sophisticated system - just an possible topic for a future video.

[@blancolirio]

stay tuned...

[@larrymiller1380]

👍👍👍

[@davidhoekje7842]

That was something watching him saw the wheel back and forth and plane react like an ocean liner in pudding. If you get something wrong I'll bet it takes a long time for a correction to take effect.

[@nonrevhogan8938]

Very Cool!!

[@scabthecat]

you keep coming back to the fire fighters juan. have you some moonlighting in mind?

[@marbleman52]

Hey, Juan...for a while there, I thought you had been flying that King Air....what a blast that would be..!!

[@blancolirio]

me too...lol

[@easternwoods4378]

Is that a King Air 250 ER ?

[@sdfjsdlkfFJKLASD]

Hi thanks for all your great videos. I lived in LA during the early 80's. I seem to remember hearing about CA buying some kind of giant fire fighting planes from Canada but they were deemed too expensive. Anybody know about this? Thanks IA. This whole thing is way about my pay grade.

[@1945thom]

my dad's last flying job after 35 years of commercial flying was flying dc-7 tanker dropping retardant on a fire in bc

[@rogerbeck3018]

I would like to understand the mechanics of reloading the retatardant. Anyone can offer guidance. Thanks.

[@scalways]

It's pretty simple. The retardant is mixed in large hoppers and uses a large pump to push 3000 gallons into the unit inside.

[@karlfair]

Impressive report, very well done. Is a drop from a MAFFS, all at once or can they drop on multiple targets?

[@blancolirio]

multiple loads, depending how they split it.

[@ShortbusMooner]

How interesting! That 'altitude' lady would get annoying, though! LOL!!

[@stofffpv3128]

I like your 'guitar security Lanyard'