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End of an era as the 145th Airlift Wing relinquishes MAFFS mission

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Monica Ebert
  • 145th Public Affairs
After 33 years of providing aerial firefighting support with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), maintainers from the North Carolina Air National Guard, 145th Airlift Wing, loaded the last portable fire retardant delivery system in to the back of a C-130 belonging to the 152nd to be transported to its new home with the Nevada Air National Guard, 152nd Airlift Wing, on September 7.

"It was a challenging, and at times demanding mission of which was highly satisfying", said Col. Marshall Collins, commander, 145th Airlift Wing.

In 2015 alone, the 145th flew 30 MAFFS sorties over 34.9 flight hours resulting in 38 drops for a total of over 754,000 pounds of retardant. The total for all four units to date is 11,039 missions with 11,626 flight hours and nearly 30 million gallons of retardant dropped since 1973.

A MAFFS mission entails aircraft to fly at low speeds and altitudes while targeting a wildfire area. The C-130 can carry 3,000 gallons of fire retardant putting the aircraft at near maximum weight capacity. The retardant can be completely discharged in under five seconds or it can be spread in to multiple drops.

There are only four MAFFS units nationwide. The 145th Airlift Wing was the only unit in the eastern portion of the United States, the three other units are located in the west. That includes two Air National Guard units, 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne; the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, Chanel Islands, CA; and one Air Force Reserve unit, 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, CO.

"I would be remiss to not mention MAFFS 7, aircraft 458, that we lost about five years ago. Obviously, it's a dangerous mission. However, the men and women of the NCANG, reserves and other professionals that fly the mission are trained and prepared to execute it safely," said Collins.

With over 11,000 missions and 43 years of the military providing support, there has only been one significant accident. On July 1, 2012, four Airmen lost their lives and two other other seriously injured when MAFFS 7 crashed while fighting the White Draw Fire near Edgemont, South Dakota.

"I can't say enough in way of gratitude and appreciation for those folks and their contribution, as well as those who came before us that have since retired. Everything we do has a legacy about it" said Collins.