Aero Union - Revision history

WikiSysop: /* List of Aero Union Invaders */

2019-11-27T06:36:40Z

List of Aero Union Invaders

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:36, 27 November 2019
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	==List of Aero Union Invaders==		==List of Aero Union Invaders==

			Although Aero Union has 8 Invaders on their records, almost half of those were in inventory for less than a year. Only half of these Invaders were operated as firebombers for any significant length of time.


	{\| class="wikitable sortable"		{\| class="wikitable sortable"

WikiSysop: /* List of Aero Union Invaders */

2019-11-27T06:33:30Z

List of Aero Union Invaders

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:33, 27 November 2019
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	==List of Aero Union Invaders==		==List of Aero Union Invaders==

			{\| class="wikitable sortable"
			!Tanker #
			!USAF S/N
			!Delivered
			!SOC
			!Comments
			\|-
			\|55
			\|[[44-35323]]
			\|1969
			\|1972
			\|Acquired from Aeroflight, Inc out of Troutdale, OR. Aero Union bought the plane in 1969, but Conair owned it in May 1970, and Aero Union bought it back. The period between 1972 and 1977 is not known, but by 1977 it was registered with a new owner.
			\|-
			\|56
			\|[[43-22511]]
			\|1970
			\|4 May 1971
			\|Crashed and destroyed during firebombing efforts in Springerville, AZ 4 May 1971.
			\|-
			\|Unknown
			\|[[44-34535]]
			\|1963
			\|1965
			\|Bought from Hamilton Aircraft in Tucson, 1963. Sold to Aero Associates in Tucson, 1965.
			\|-
			\|Unknown
			\|[[41-39359]]
			\|1966
			\|1970
			\|Purchased from USAF surplus, 1966. Sold to Conair, 1970.
			\|-
			\|Unknown
			\|[[43-22357]]
			\|1970
			\|1970
			\|Was only in service with Aero Union for a short time. Bought in 1969 from Hamilton Aircraft of Tucson. Sold to Conair in 1970.
			\|-
			\|Unknown
			\|[[44-34344]]
			\|1972
			\|1974
			\|Purchased from Ames Corp, 1972. Damaged after nosewheel collapse shortly after acquiring it. Stored as damaged in 1972. Broken up for scrap in 1974.
			\|-
			\|Unknown
			\|[[44-35456]]
			\|1972
			\|1972
			\|Bought from Western Contracting, 1972. Sold to Conair, 1972.
			\|-
			\|Unknown
			\|[[44-35440]]
			\|1971
			\|1971
			\|Bought from Rock Island Oil & Refining, 1971. Sold to Conair, 1971.
			\|}

WikiSysop: /* Aircraft fleet */

2019-11-27T06:13:46Z

Aircraft fleet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:13, 27 November 2019
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	*Lockheed P-3 Orion		*Lockheed P-3 Orion
	*Lockheed P-2 Neptune		*Lockheed P-2 Neptune
	*Douglas DC-4/C-54~~[1]~~		*Douglas DC-4/C-54
	*North American Aviation B-25 Mitchell		*North American Aviation B-25 Mitchell
	*Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress		*Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
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	*Douglas DC-6		*Douglas DC-6
	*Douglas DC-7		*Douglas DC-7
	*Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy ~~[23]~~		*Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy

	==List of Aero Union Invaders==		==List of Aero Union Invaders==

WikiSysop: /* Aircraft fleet */

2019-11-27T06:12:29Z

Aircraft fleet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:12, 27 November 2019
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	==Aircraft fleet==		==Aircraft fleet==
	[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|~~200~~ px\| right]]		[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|300 px\| right]]

	Lockheed P-3 Orion		Types of planes operated by Aero Union:
	Lockheed P-2 Neptune		*Lockheed P-3 Orion
	Douglas DC-4/C-54[1]		*Lockheed P-2 Neptune
	North American Aviation B-25 Mitchell		*Douglas DC-4/C-54[1]
	Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress		*North American Aviation B-25 Mitchell
	Grumman S-2 Tracker		*Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
	Douglas A-26 Invader		*Grumman S-2 Tracker
	Grumman TBM Avenger		*Douglas A-26 Invader
	Grumman AF-2S Guardian		*Grumman TBM Avenger
	Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar		*Grumman AF-2S Guardian
	Douglas DC-6		*Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
	Douglas DC-7		*Douglas DC-6
	Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy [23]		*Douglas DC-7
			*Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy [23]

	==List of Aero Union Invaders==		==List of Aero Union Invaders==

WikiSysop: /* Aircraft fleet */

2019-11-27T06:11:27Z

Aircraft fleet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:11, 27 November 2019
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	==Aircraft fleet==		==Aircraft fleet==
	[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|200 px\| ~~style="float:~~right"]]		[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|200 px\| right]]

	Lockheed P-3 Orion		Lockheed P-3 Orion

WikiSysop: /* Aircraft fleet */

2019-11-27T06:11:10Z

Aircraft fleet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:11, 27 November 2019
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	==Aircraft fleet==		==Aircraft fleet==
	[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|200 px\| float-right]]		[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|200 px\| style="float:right"]]

	Lockheed P-3 Orion		Lockheed P-3 Orion

WikiSysop: /* Aircraft fleet */

2019-11-27T06:10:35Z

Aircraft fleet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:10, 27 November 2019
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	==Aircraft fleet==		==Aircraft fleet==
	[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg]]		[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg\|200 px\| float-right]]

	Lockheed P-3 Orion		Lockheed P-3 Orion

WikiSysop: /* Aircraft fleet */

2019-11-27T06:09:36Z

Aircraft fleet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:09, 27 November 2019
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	==Aircraft fleet==		==Aircraft fleet==
			[[File:AeroUnionPlanes.jpg]]

	Lockheed P-3 Orion		Lockheed P-3 Orion
	Lockheed P-2 Neptune		Lockheed P-2 Neptune

WikiSysop: /* MAFFS II */

2019-11-27T06:09:00Z

MAFFS II

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:09, 27 November 2019
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	==MAFFS II==		==MAFFS II==
	One of the company's last projects was an improved version of the Modular Airborne FireFighting System under contract to the USFS. Originally designed for C-130J model aircraft and later modified to fit on C-130H models, the new MAFFS II system has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, replacing the five retardant tanks with one large tank, and has an on-board air compressor. The original MAFFS has to be pressurized by a compressor on the ground as a part of the loading process. The ability to pressurize the system in the air will cut turn-around time but yet, add substantial weight.~~[20]~~ The new system discharges the retardant through a special plug in the paratroop drop door on the side of the aircraft, rather than requiring the cargo ramp door to be opened; this allows the aircraft to remain pressurized during the drop sequence.~~[21]~~		One of the company's last projects was an improved version of the Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) under contract to the USFS. Originally designed for C-130J model aircraft and later modified to fit on C-130H models, the new MAFFS II system has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, replacing the five retardant tanks with one large tank, and has an on-board air compressor. The original MAFFS has to be pressurized by a compressor on the ground as a part of the loading process. The ability to pressurize the system in the air will cut turn-around time but yet, add substantial weight. The new system discharges the retardant through a special plug in the paratroop drop door on the side of the aircraft, rather than requiring the cargo ramp door to be opened; this allows the aircraft to remain pressurized during the drop sequence.

	Aero Union delivered the first production unit to the USFS in July, 2007, with flight testing that following August.~~[21]~~ MAFFS II was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010.~~[22]~~		Aero Union delivered the first production unit to the USFS in July, 2007, with flight testing that following August. MAFFS II was used for the first time on a fire in July 2010.

	==Aircraft fleet==		==Aircraft fleet==

WikiSysop: /* Closure */

2019-11-27T06:07:08Z

Closure

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:07, 27 November 2019
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	==Closure==		==Closure==
	~~On July 29, 2011 the U.S. Forest Service announced that it had canceled its six-plane contract with Aero Union after the company's planes failed their required safety inspections.[9][10]~~ In April 2011 Aero Union had voluntarily disclosed that its planes were not current on inspections and were in violation of the contract.~~[11]~~ The contract, worth about $30 million a year, made up about 95% of the company's income.~~[12]~~ Less than a month later Aero Union informed its employees that they were out of work and that the company was shutting down operations.~~[13]~~ That August Aero Union failed to make its lease payments to the City of Chico and the lease was declared invalid by the city that September due to concerns that the city would be unable to re-lease the facilities if they became tied up in bankruptcy proceedings.~~[14][15]~~ Reduced to a staff of 5 people after the last round of layoffs, down from approximately 230 in 2008, CEO Brett Gourley claimed “The company is in sort of hibernation mode” and was looking for other sources of income. Aero Union has since completely shutdown all of its facilities, websites and other points of contact and is assumed to be out of business. In February 2012 PMI held an auction of Aero Union's aircraft assets, including 8 P-3 Orion aircraft, various spare parts and their intellectual property (MAFFS II and FIREHAWK firefighting systems).~~[16][17]~~ Only two aircraft were bid upon and those bids were rejected as being too low. In May 2012 another auction of tools and equipment, but no aircraft, parts or intellectual property, went through with the majority of it selling.~~[18]~~ Former Aero Union Tanker 23 acquired by Airstrike Firefighters, with plans for 6 more P-3's.~~[19]~~		In April 2011 Aero Union had voluntarily disclosed that its planes were not current on inspections and were in violation of the contract. The contract, worth about $30 million a year, made up about 95% of the company's income. On July 29, 2011 the U.S. Forest Service announced that it had canceled its six-plane contract with Aero Union after the company's planes failed their required safety inspections. Less than a month later Aero Union informed its employees that they were out of work and that the company was shutting down operations. That August Aero Union failed to make its lease payments to the City of Chico and the lease was declared invalid by the city that September due to concerns that the city would be unable to re-lease the facilities if they became tied up in bankruptcy proceedings. Reduced to a staff of 5 people after the last round of layoffs, down from approximately 230 in 2008, CEO Brett Gourley claimed “The company is in sort of hibernation mode” and was looking for other sources of income. Aero Union has since completely shutdown all of its facilities, websites and other points of contact and is assumed to be out of business. In February 2012 PMI held an auction of Aero Union's aircraft assets, including 8 P-3 Orion aircraft, various spare parts and their intellectual property (MAFFS II and FIREHAWK firefighting systems). Only two aircraft were bid upon and those bids were rejected as being too low. In May 2012 another auction of tools and equipment, but no aircraft, parts or intellectual property, went through with the majority of it selling. Former Aero Union Tanker 23 was acquired by Airstrike Firefighters, with plans for 6 more P-3's.

	==MAFFS II==		==MAFFS II==