By: Jordan Taylor
Coulson Aviation USA, a leading provider of large airtanker support for wildland firefighting, has announced the expansion of its C-130H Hercules fleet to ten aircraft. The announcement, made on April 11, follows the acquisition of four C-130H aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The new aircraft will be transferred to Coulson’s facility in Thermal, California, where they will undergo a comprehensive conversion and modernization. Each C-130H will be equipped with Coulson’s advanced RADS-XXL tank system, engineered to deliver precision water and retardant drops of up to 4,000 gallons at high flow rates—further enhancing Coulson’s global aerial firefighting capabilities.
A Milestone for Aerial Firefighting
“This latest acquisition marks another significant milestone for Coulson Aviation and the continued evolution of the aerial firefighting industry,” said Britt Coulson, President and COO of Coulson Aviation USA.
“These aircraft improve our ability to respond quickly and effectively to fires around the world. With the addition of four more C-130Hs, we’re reinforcing our commitment to operate the most capable and advanced airtanker fleet globally—saving lives and protecting the environments and economies at risk.”
Full In-House Conversion
The aircraft conversions will begin later this year in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. As part of Coulson’s vertically integrated model, the process—from engineering and modification to operations and maintenance—will be conducted entirely in-house, allowing for faster deployment and customized configurations to meet regional firefighting needs.
Coulson added, “As we’ve seen with catastrophic events like the Lahaina fire in Maui (2023) and recent wildfire seasons in Malibu, California (2024–2025), the scale and speed of response are more critical than ever. Large platforms like the C-130 and CH-47 are proving indispensable in high-intensity fire scenarios.”
A Legacy Continued
These C-130Hs, previously flown by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, carry a distinguished service record from missions ranging from Antarctica to Afghanistan. Now, they’ll begin a new chapter—protecting lives, infrastructure, and landscapes from the growing threat of wildfires.
Fleet Growth at a Glance
With the acquisition of these four aircraft, Coulson’s total number of C-130H airtankers reaches ten—positioning the company as one of the world’s largest private operators of large fixed-wing firefighting aircraft.