VIDEO: A C-130 nicknamed Zeus will be in San Diego County throughout the month of August, training Ramona-based pilots who normally fly CalFire's workhorse S-2 tankers.
The pilots are training to fly the much bigger aircraft that will eventually join Cal Fire's fleet.
The first thing you notice about the C-130 is that it's huge. It can carry up to 4,000 gallons of flame retardant. By comparison, the S-2 tanker holds 1,200 gallons.
“The crew can dial in coverage levels, gallon levels, however much they want, and then when it comes time to drop, they just hit right here and the computer does everything for us,” said Paul Huebner, Flight Engineer with Coulson Aviation. Depending on the airport's pump system, it can take 8 to 10 minutes to fill that tank.
Depending on the weight of the load, the C-130 can stay in the air for 4 to 5 hours.
Three crew members fly the C-130 compared to a single pilot for the S-2.