July 1, 2026 · AerialFire Magazine
AerialFire Magazine looks at the Catalina Condor™, now in development, against the pressures shaping aerial firefighting procurement: fleet replacement, aircraft availability, and the need to keep airframes earning outside fire season.
The Condor pairs a 2,300-gallon water and retardant system with low-altitude drops and fast scoop turnarounds, on a MOSA-native FAA Part 25 transport-category airframe. Engineered for forward-deployed operations, it is aimed at high sortie rates and simplified field maintenance, so a single platform carries capability through the season and useful work beyond it.