On The Flight Line With MAFFS... And An Update On The Young Eagles Program

All this week, Aero-News is bringing you not just one... but TWO ANN Special Feature Aero-Casts.

It's jungle-hot on the flightline at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina... as two C-130 H-models spool up... getting ready to head west.

They're part of a tiny military fleet of what are called MAFFS-capable aircraft -- that stands for modular airborne firefighting sytems -- and in all the guard and reserves, there are only eight of them. Major Dan Klonninger and Senior Master Sergeant Phillip Smith are flying one of two based in Charlotte... headed for Oregon.

For our Special Osh-Kast Feature, ANN's Jim Campbell chats with Steve Buss, who is the executive director of the Young Eagles organization --  which is dedicated to introducing youngsters to flight. What do they have up their sleeves for Oshkosh?

These features are in addition to our daily news briefing -- available in either a quick "Touch And Go" format or an expanded Aero-Briefing.

ANN Daily Touch N Go: 07.21.06 (ANN's Short-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Daily Aero-Briefing: 07.21.06 (ANN's Long-Form Daily News Program)

ANN Special Feature -- What Is MAFFS?: 07.21.06 (ANN Special Feature, with a rare look inside the Air National Guard's firefighting C-130s.)

• SPECIAL Oshkosh Feature -- EAA Young Eagles Update: 07.21.06 (ANN Special "Osh-Kast" Feature, with the EAA's Steve Buss on the status of the Young Eagles program as we near AirVenture.)

Our DAILY programs consist of (at least) three separate products.

• ANN's Daily 'Touch & Go' Aero-Cast: A quick look at the most recent news of the day... short, succinct and to the point. The usual 'Touch & Go' takes but a few minutes and is a summary, only, of the day's events... and it only takes a few minutes of your time.
• ANN's Daily Briefing Aero-Cast: The Daily ANN Report (ANNRep for short), is a more comprehensive look at the day's news. We give you the whole buzz... the news and features that occupy the forefront of aviation news as well as solid background on the subjects that aviators and other aviation professionals need to stay informed on.
• ANN's Daily 'ASR' Feature Aero-Cast: Our daily 'Aero-News Special Report' involves a more in-depth view of a story or two that dominated (or will be dominating) the day's news. Far more detailed than any single story in our standard ANN Daily Reports, this is a solid chance to get a close look at the stories and topics that matter. ASR features may include exclusive interviews with Aviation's Newsmakers, ANN's Special Investigative reports and solid analysis of the stories that will have undeniable impact on the world of aviation and aerospace.

Check them out, let us know what you think and be sure to keep those news-tips and program suggestions coming... ANN is ALL about what YOU want to know about in the world of aviation and aerospace.

FMI: www.aero-news.net/podcasts