THERMAL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 19, 2025--
Coulson Aviation USA has acquired five Citation 550 aircraft from the Canadian Government, expanding its fleet of jet-powered Lead Plane and Air Attack platforms and reinforcing its role as the world’s largest aerial firefighting company.
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The FAR Part 25-certified aircraft will be upgraded with Coulson’s proprietary mission enhancement package, making them the most advanced jet-based aerial supervision aircraft in service. Known for their speed, stability, and reliability, the Citation 550 represents a significant advancement in safety, situational awareness, and tactical response over legacy turboprops.
“These aircraft are almost purpose-built for speed, coordination, and aerial command,” said Britton Coulson, President and COO. “This acquisition expands our capacity while raising the bar for performance and safety in aerial firefighting.”
Each aircraft will be outfitted with Coulson’s latest digital audio systems, advanced communications, and interoperable avionics to ensure seamless coordination with U.S. and international wildfire agencies.
Coulson operates the industry’s most diverse aerial firefighting fleet, supporting early and aggressive initial attack, the most effective strategy to reduce carbon emissions, ecosystem damage, and long-term wildfire costs. With this expansion, the company now operates the world’s largest jet-powered air attack fleet, supporting operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Chile. These aircraft provide tactical coordination, Large Airtanker integration, and low-level airspace deconfliction during multi-agency wildfire responses.
“We’re not just building fleets, we’re building systems,” said Coulson. “From command aircraft to retardant delivery, we manage every layer of aerial suppression with our people, technology, and safety programs.”
As the only vertically integrated aerial firefighting company operating air attack, lead planes, large air tankers, and helicopters, Coulson combines operational integration with continued investment in innovation, specialized training, supported maintenance, and global deployed crews, positioning it as a key partner in combating wildfire threats.
About Coulson Aviation
Throughout the company’s 60+ years, the mission has remained the same: to protect the world from forest fires. Our organizational capabilities allow our team to provide simultaneous aerial support across numerous continents. As a leading supplier to county, state, and federal governments worldwide, Coulson has focused its next-generation multi-mission fleet on sustainable, in-production aircraft. Working in partnership with OEMs and leveraging the latest technology allows Coulson to provide superior all-hazard response aircraft. Learn more about Coulson Aviation by visiting: coulsonaviation.com.
Coulson Aviation’s newly acquired fleet of five Citation 550 aircraft—part of the industry’s most diverse aerial firefighting fleet—await conversion into advanced jet-powered Lead Plane and Air Attack platforms.
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Brad Keselowski felt the utmost confidence entering Talladega Superspeedway this weekend — even while knowing his car doesn’t have the speed to keep up with the Cup Series leaders.
Keselowski has six wins at the 2.66-mile tri-oval, tying him with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon for second in NASCAR history. Only Dale Earnhardt Sr., who won a record 10 times at the Alabama track, has more victories there.
Keselowski will try to move into sole possession of second place Sunday in the first of two ‘Dega races this season. It’s far from a sure thing, especially given Toyota’s dominance through the first nine races.
“Just need a little bit of luck," he said. “I had two great races at Talladega in ’24 and two just OK or bad races in ’25. I guess that means I’m probably on the other side of the cycle. So I’m hopeful to make it count and hope we’re on the positive side of that cycle.”
Keselowski was the runner-up in both events in 2024. He wrecked out of the April race a year ago and then notched a 10th-place finish in October. His last win at NASCAR's longest track came in 2021.
“Racers tend to count their losses more than they count their wins,” Keselowski said. “I don’t know why that is, probably because you have more losses than you have wins. But I feel like there’s probably a few races at Talladega that I should have won and I didn’t. And then there’s probably a few I shouldn’t have won that I did.
“So maybe it all kind of works out in the wash.”
Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick, who drives for 23XI Racing and NBA great Michael Jordan, has five wins through the first two months. Toyota has claimed seven of the nine events, with Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs picking up two for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Reddick’s pace has been matched four times previously in NASCAR’s top series and not since Earnhardt Sr. started off the 1987 season that way. The Intimidator went on to win six more times while claiming the third of his seven championships, and there’s little to make it seem that Reddick can’t do the same thing.
“None of the Fords have any chance of beating the Toyotas right now until they get a new car or rules concessions,” Keselowski said. “The only opportunity we have to beat them is in areas where aerodynamics aren’t as important on the car.”
That could be Talladega, where pack racing in a draft negates aerodynamic advantages. Keselowski pointed to superspeedways and short tracks as the best shot at upsetting anyone in a Toyota.
Then again, Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500 and the following week at Atlanta.
“The other tracks, they just have so much more speed,” said Keselowski, who is ranked 10th in points through nine events. “Even when they don’t execute very well and we execute at a high degree, the speed differential makes up for it.”
NASCAR canceled qualifying for the Jack Links 500 because of rain. The sanctioning body pulled the plug early Saturday after overnight rain continued into the early morning hours.
The weather is expected to improve throughout the day, but scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast.
Reddick will start from the pole based on NASCAR’s qualifying metrics. Kyle Larson will start second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and Chase Briscoe. Keselowski will start sixth.
Casey Mears was the lone driver to not qualify.
Despite Toyota’s dominance, oddsmakers installed Ford drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano as the prerace favorites. Blaney is plus-1000 to win, following by Logano (plus-1200) and William Byron (plus-1400).
Reddick is the next choice at plus-1500. Keselowski is plus-1600.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Denny Hamlin (11) and Tyler Reddick (45) head down the front straightaway during the third stage of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
FILE - William Byron (24) and Kyle Larson (5) lead the pack during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 19, 2025, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
FILE - Brad Keselowski prepares to run during NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Daytona, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
