Largest Airtanker Company in the World Adds Four Hercules Aircraft to Its Global Aerial Firefighting Fleet
THERMAL, CALIFORNIA – April 11, 2025: Coulson Aviation, the world’s largest operator of large airtankers, is proud to announce the expansion of its C-130H Hercules fleet to 10 aircraft for aerial firefighting, following the acquisition of four aircraft from the New Zealand Defence Force.
The aircraft will be re-located to Coulson’s base in Thermal, California, where they will undergo a full conversion and modernization process. Each will be equipped with Coulson’s proprietary RADS-XXL tank system—the world’s highest-capacity, highest-flow-rate aerial firefighting tank—enabling precision drops of up to 4,000 gallons. Once converted, the aircraft will expand Coulson’s global response capabilities, supporting firefighting missions worldwide.
“This acquisition represents another major milestone for Coulson Aviation and the future of aerial firefighting,” said Britton Coulson, President and COO of Coulson Aviation USA. “These aircraft continue to enhance our ability to respond rapidly and effectively to wildfires around the world—saving lives, protecting communities, and safeguarding critical natural and economic resources. With the four additional C-130Hs in our fleet, we’re reaffirming our commitment to lead the industry with the most capable, high-performance large airtankers in the world.”
Coulson will begin conversions later this year in close coordination with the FAA. As part of Coulson’s vertically integrated approach—spanning aircraft acquisition, engineering, modification, operations, and maintenance—the entire process will be completed in-house. This model allows for rapid deployment and tailored solutions to meet the evolving demands of wildfire suppression around the globe.
“We have all observed the trend of increasingly intense and destructive fires over the past few years, beginning with Lahaina, Maui in 2023, followed by Malibu, California in 2024/2025. On days marked by extreme fire behavior, it’s the large assets like the C-130s and CH-47s that can truly make a difference,” said Coulson.
The newly acquired C-130Hs, formerly operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, have a proud operational history, having flown missions from Antarctica to Afghanistan. Now, they will carry that legacy forward in a new role–protecting communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from the growing threat of wildfires.
About Coulson Aviation
Throughout the company’s 60+ years, the mission has remained the same: to protect the world from forest fires. Our organizational capabilities allow our team to provide simultaneous aerial support across numerous continents. As a leading supplier to county, state, and federal governments worldwide, Coulson has focused its next-generation multi-mission fleet on sustainable, in-production aircraft. Working in partnership with OEMs and leveraging the latest technology allows Coulson to provide superior all-hazard response aircraft. Learn more about Coulson Aviation by visiting: coulsonaviationusa.com.
