Coulson Aviation’s Tanker 138 Becomes First Large Airtanker Under Contract to U.S. Wildland Fire Service

Coulson Aviation’s Tanker 138 Becomes First Large Airtanker Under Contract to U.S. Wildland Fire Service

C-130H combines 4,000-gallon capacity, tactical performance and Coulson’s RADS-XXL retardant delivery system

Coulson Aviation today announced that Tanker 138, a Lockheed C-130H registered as N382CG, began a 60-day Exclusive Use contract last week with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The contract makes Tanker 138 the first Large Airtanker placed under contract by the newly established federal service.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260804417536/en/ The Coulson Aviation C-130H is the first Large Airtanker placed under contract by the newly established U.S. Wildland Fire Service. Tanker 138 is equipped with the Coulson proprietary RADS-XXL retardant delivery system, carrying 4,000 U.S. gallons.

At 4,000 U.S. gallons, Tanker 138 carries the largest retardant load available in the Large Airtanker class. The C-130H combines that capacity with four-engine turboprop performance, low-speed handling and strong climb capability, giving flight crews the flexibility to operate effectively in demanding terrain and changing wildfire conditions.