Airplane manufacturer Embraer has completed flight tests on its C-390 Millennium military turbofan aircraft aimed at adding firefighting capabilities. With its Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II), the OEM said the mid-size utility aircraft would now be able to perform firefighting missions.
The tests—a joint effort between the Brazilian Air Force and the Brazilian Military Certification Authority (IFI)—utilized the MAFFS II system’s ability to deploy approximately 3,000 gallons of water, with or without fire retardant, Embraer said. Additionally, with fly-by-wire flight control systems by BAE Systems, Embraer said this will give pilots the maneuverability they need at low speeds.
