Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130s from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing are helping to fight forest fires Idaho and Montana at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, according to an Aug. 4 release. Over the weekend, the aircraft discharged 3,000 gallons of retardant on the Hard Creed fire in Idaho; 9,000 gallons of retardant at the Thompson River fire in Montana; and about 3,000 gallons of retardant on the Warland fire in Montana. Defense Department aircraft have conducted a total of 65 airdrops since July 20, discharging more than 114,000 gallons of fire retardant, states the release. The aircraft are under the control of US Northern Command.
In 1941, Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold of the then-U.S. Army Air Corps, personally reviewed a jet engine patented by Sir Frank Whittle flying on a Gloster E.28/39 aircraft. Impressed by its design, Arnold arranged for a Whittle engine to be brought back to the U.S. and tasked General Electric…