Coulson Aviation's N130CG

Coulson Aviation's N130CG (msn 382-4339) is making its way back to YXX from its Australian fire season base at BQB. This C-130H is making stops at QPE, OOL, APW, KOA, SMX, and YYJ, flying as CUL140. It's making its KOA overnight stopover today.

05 March 2026 UPDATE

N130CG departed KOA for SMX this morning.

Coulson Aviation's 767 VLAT Program

Coulson Aviation announced today that they are launching the 767 VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker) program. This new variant of the Boeing 767 will be able to perform aerial firefighting flights with their RADS tanks, as well as transport passengers. This comes on the heels of the grounding of DC-10s and MD-11s. No timetable was listed as to when the first 767 will enter service for Coulson. From the conceptual illustration, it looks to be 767-300s that will be used.

N4054

Coulson Aviation's N4054 (msn 382-4054) is making its ferry flight from BHE to TRM, with stops at AKL, PPG, and KOA. This C-130H is the last of the four that Coulson acquired from the Royal New Zealand Air Force. 

382-4054's History:

Apr 1965: Built as 64-15096, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7003.

Feb 2023: Withdrawn from service. 

Jan 2025: Officially retired from service.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

06 October 2025 UPDATE

N4054 departed for TRM this afternoon.

N4312L

Coulson Aviation is taking delivery of N4312L (msn 382-4312). This C-130H is making its delivery flight from BHE to TRM, via AKL, PPG, and KOA. It's making its overnight stop at KOA tonight.

This is Coulson's third of four former Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H to be ferried from New Zealand to California.

382-4312's History:

Dec 1968: Built as 68-8218, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7004.

Nov 2023: Withdrawn from service. 

Jan 2025: Officially retired from service.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

N4053L

Coulson Aviation is taking delivery of N4053L (msn 382-4053). This former Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H is being ferried from BHE to TRM, via AKL, PPG, and KOA. It's making an overnight stop at KOA tonight. This is the second of four ex-RNZAF C-130Hs that Coulson acquired to become aerial firefighters.

382-4053's History:

Apr 1965: Built as 64-15095, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7002.

Jan 2025: Withdrawn from service, and officially retired from service.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

N4313L

N4313L (msn 382-4313), a former Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H, has been acquired by Coulson Aviation USA, and is being ferried from BHE [Woodburne Airport, Blenheim, New Zealand] to TRM, via AKL, PPG, and JRF. It's making an overnight stop at JRF tonight.

This is the first of four former RNZAF C-130Hs that Coulson Aviation USA bought from the New Zealand Defence Force. The fleet of five C-130Hs of 40 Squadron was retired in January, and the four were sold in April. The first RNZAF C-130H, NZ7001 (msn 382-4052) was donated to the Air Force Museum at Wigram, NZ.

382-4313's History:

Dec 1968: Built as 68-8219, and delivered to the RNZAF's 40 Squadron as NZ7005.

Jan 2025: Withdrawn from service, officially retired from service, and stored at BHE.

Apr 2025: Sold to Coulson Aviation USA.

NSW Rural Fire Service's N138CG

The NSW Rural Fire Service's 737-3H4 water bomber, N138CG "Marie Bashir" (c/n 29728, l/n 2742), is returning to TRM from XRH, via PPG and KOA. This 737 is operated by Coulson Aviation, and is flying as CUL138. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight. It stopped through KOA in October 2024.

Coulson Aviation's N131CG

Coulson Aviation's N131CG (msn 382-4901) is returning from its Australian summer fire season deployment. This EC-130Q is making its ferry flight from BQB to TRM, via XRH, PPG, AND JRF, AS CUL131. It will make its overnight stop at JRF tonight. N131CG stopped through ITO this past November.

Coulson Aviation's N132CG

Coulson Aviation's C-130H, N132CG (msn 382-4338), is returning to its base at TRM, as CUL132. This aerial firefighter is ferrying from BQB [Busselton Regional Airport, Western Australia, Australia] to TRM, via XRH, PPG and KOA.

Coulson Aviation's N382CG

Another Coulson Aviation C-130H, N382CG (msn 382-4336, f/n 138), is making its way from TRM to XRH, via SMX, KOA, PPG, and NLK, as CUL138. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

382-4336's History:

___ ____: Delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force as BW-C 954 "Balder", assigned to the 335 Squadron.

Sep 2023: Acquired by Coulson Aviation, and converted to a water bomber.

Coulson Aviation's N131CG

Coulson Aviation's N131CG (msn 382-4901) is making a stop at ITO, as it ferries to Australia for their summer fire season. This C-130H, flying from SMX as CUL131, will also make a stop at PPG.

382-4901's History:

Oct 1981: Delivered to the US Navy as 161495, as an EC-130Q.

___ 1983: Assigned to VQ-3.

Mar 1987: Assigned to VQ-4.

Dec 1991: Converted to a C-130H, with the removal the EW equipment.

___ 1993: Given to NASA as N427NA, and based at Wallops Island, WA.

Oct 2004: Donated to the Kenosha Military Museum for display.

Aug 2012: Acquired by Wells Fargo NA Trustee, and registered as N130FF.

Aug 2013: Leased to Coulson Aviation, and converted to a fire fighting aircraft.

Jan 2018: Sold to the Delaware Trust Co Trustee, and the lease transferred.

___ 2020: Painted in the current livery.

NSW Rural Fire Service's N138CG

NSW Rural Fire Service's N138CG "Marie Bashir" (c/29728, l/n 2742) is making is way from TRM to XRH, via SMX, KOA, PPG, and NLK, as CUL138 for the Australian summer fire season. This fire fighting 737-3H4, operated by Coulson Aviation, with the tail number B210, will fly as BMBR210 while on Australian missions. It will make an overnight stop at KOA tonight.

Coulson Aviation's N132CG

Another Coulson Aviation C-130 Hercules water bomber, N132CG (msn 382-4338), is making its way back to TRM from XRH. Flying as CUL132, this C-130H arriving at JRF from PPG.

382-4338's History:

Jun 1969: Delivered to the Royal Norwegian Air Force as 956/BW-E "Ty", assigned to 335 Skv. It was given the USAF registration of 68-10956 prior to delivery to the RNoAF.

Late 1990s: Painted in an all-grey livery.

Dec 2008: Retired by the RNoAF, and ferried to AMARC for storage.

Feb 2020: Acquired by Coulson Aviation, converted to a water bomber, and registered as N132CG.

N138CG

N138CG (c/n 27928, l/n 2942), the 737-3H4 water bomber owned by the NSW Rural Fire Service, and operated by Coulson Aviation, is making an overnight stop at JRF from PPG, as it heads to Coulson's base at TRM. It spent the past week at PPG, after leaving XRH.

27928's History:

Jly 1995: Delivered to Southwest Airlines as N608SW (f/n 608).

Jan 2004: Painted in the Canyon Blue livery.

May 2017: Acquired by Coulson Aviation.

Mar 2018: Converted to a water bomber, and registered as N138CG (f/n 138).

Jly 2019: Sold to Delaware Trust Co, as a trustee for the NSW Rural Fire Service, named "Marie Bashir", and operated by Coulson Aviation.

Coulson Aviation's N140CG

Coulson Aviation's C-130H, N140CG (msn 382-4337, f/n 133), is making its way from NLK to TRM, via XRH, PPG, and JRF, as CUL133. It's returning to its base after the Australian summer deployment, and will overnight at JRF.

382-4337's History:

___1968: Assigned the USAF serial 68-10955. Delivered to the Royal Norwegian Air Force as 955 "Froy" BW-D.

Oct 2008: Retired from the RNAF, and stored at AMARC.

Aug 2023: Sold to Coulson Aviation as N140CG, and converted to a water bomber.

Coulson Aviation's N137CG

Coulson Aviation's firefighting 737-3H4, N137CG "Gaia" (c/n 27700, l/n 2759, f/n 137), is making a brief fuel stop at JRF from PPG today. It's returning from its Australian summer deployment at XRH as CUL137. It will continue to its home base at TRM.

Coulson Fireliner's N137CG

Coulson Fireliners is ferrying N137CG "Gaia" (c/n 27700, l/n 2759, f/n 137) from TRM to Australia, via SMX, ITO, and PPG, as CUL137. This 737-3H4 water bomber is headed Down Under for their summer firefighting mission.

Coulson Aviation’s N137CG

One of Coulson Aviation’s 737 firebombers is making an overnight stop at JRF from PPG tonight. N137CG “Gaia” (c/n 27700, l/n 2759), a 737-3H4, flying as CUL137, is returning to its base at TRM [Thermal, CA] from its Australian summer firefighting season, based at XRH [Richmond, Australia].

27700’s History:

Oct 1995: Delivered to Southwest Airlines as N617SW (f/n 617).

Dec 2004: Painted in the Canyon Blue livery.

Feb 2017: Withdrawn from service.

Mar 2017: Acquired by Coulson Aviation.

Sep 2017: Converted to waterbomber, and re-registered as N137CG “Gaia” (f/n 137).

Coulson Aviation's N619SW

Coulson Aviation is ferrying its 737-300 firebomber, N619SW (c/n 28035, l/n 2762, f/n 139), from TRM [Thermal, CA] to BQB [Busselton, Australia], via ITO, PPG, and XRH for the Australian summer fire season. This 737-3H4 is flying as CUL139, is making an overnight stop at ITO.

N619SW's History:

Nov 1995: Delivered to Southwest Airlines.

Aug 2017: Withdrawn from service, and sold to Coulson Aviation.

Dec 2017: Ferried to IGM for storage.

Jun 2019: Ferried to CBS8 [Alberni Valley Regional] for tanker conversion.

May 2022: Ferried to ROW for testing and short-term storage.

Coulson Air Tanker's N405LC

Wearing it's firefighting uniform, this L-100-30 (L-382G) belonging to Coulson Air Tanker flew in from Oakland last night. N405LC (cn 382-5025) previously flew with Lynden Air Cargo and was taken up and converted by Coulson in late 2014.