Fly the Martin Mars - Full Cockpit Audio

How'd you like to fly the Martin Mars? Come on along and give it a try! Here's a video of my flight training on the Martin "Hawaii" Mars seaplane, with live cockpit audio. This clip will give you a great overview of the procedures for prepping and flying this awesome craft. You'll see the check lists for pre-start, engine start, take-off, water pick-up, water drop and landing. Check it out! I'm sure you're going to enjoy it.
Kermit Weeks
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Kermit Weeks Hangar

[@waynemerlo7448]

Let's hope both these beautiful planes get preserved in museums.

[@christophersimmins3181]

As a bush-fire firefighter from Down-Under...I feel very comfortable among those flying grey mustaches. Coulson and your old big bird... thank you all ,for your experience expertise & historic excellence .Captain Kermit thank you for another beautiful, top shelf production.

[@airtightindustries]

These planes are what hooked me for life. Growing up my family spent summers on sproat lake. I have found memories of my dad pulling me on water skis under the wing while moored. I remember in the early 90's the bomber base having the two mars, two pby's a goose and bell ranger. Truly paradise for a ten year old!

[@georgeroberts442]

I've watched a lot of pilots during flight. I don't think I've ever seen such an intent, serious minded, and constantly engaged pilot as this guy. He is really on it every second of the flight. That must take a lot of energy and concentration.

[@Three-LeggedCat]

Just love

[@jake373]

My Friend lived on this lake when we were kids. We’d hear the planes fire up in the summer, run jump in the boat and jump their wakes as they were scooping water and doing pre flight. I’ll never forget seeing this plane fly a hundred feet above their house. Amazing memory

[@rev.andyh.1082]

Flight deck requirements: 1. serious mustaches 2. aviator shades 3. Beemans gum 4. someone named Roger

[@barryroach1980]

lol Over and Out!

[@davidgrenis638]

Rev. Andy H. D. OLD FARTS WITH LOTS OF MONEY.. RETIRED WITH LOTS OF TIME ALSO HELPS .

[@CdoMac]

White hair and shorts

[@endwood]

You forgot old age!😂

[@johnholzhey8149]

@@endwood Roger Roger.

[@maxflight777]

I like the guy kneeling behind the console, guiding Kermit , very professional.

[@P61guy61]

Wonderful video. Looks like they didn’t cut you any slack Kermit and you appeared to have been prepared. You weren’t just along for the ride. Commendable effort to experience not only the flying but the serious business of being part of the crew. Bravo. Thank you for sharing.

[@firefightergoggie]

As impressive as the aircraft is, the crew coordination caught my attention. Very impressive to listen to the communication.

[@tango9939]

Idk his name, but the gentleman flying seems very cool. Very calm and calculating. Only talks when absolutely necessary.

[@proinseasokiellig4388]

@@tango9939 ..and fully focused!

[@Inferalanding]

Amazing old plane. The longevity of this beast is most impressive. That it's been hanging in there as a working plane and not just a museum exhibit for so many years is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

[@laura-ann.0726]

One of the reasons that these WWII-era planes are still around, when much newer jet aircraft get scrapped with far less flight hours on them, is that they don't have pressurized cabins to allow for high altitude flight. The lack of pressurization means that metal fatigue in the fuselage structure happens at a slower rate. Jet airliners go through several cycles of pressurization every day of operation, and it's the metal fatigue from this that caps their service life more than any other factor. In the case of the Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars, Kermit mentions in another video that the inventory of spare parts to keep the engines running is almost gone, and the propellers are coming close to the end of their service life due to metal fatigue. These are unique propellers, no other aircraft still flying use them, and to have Hamilton-Standard fabricate new ones on a custom order just for these two aircraft would be prohibitively expensive.

[@schumacher69]

Why am I in love with these flying boats!? Good stuff!

[@jacksonmacd]

I worked for one of the forest companies in the 1970s that owned the Mars (BCFP), and saw them fly many times. Passed by the Sproat Lake base and saw them at the bouys many times. This series of videos is by far the best I've ever seen about the Mars. So cool to see the flight deck procedures during pickup. Thanks very much for sharing.

[@viniciusgiordani6238]

(&^%$##^*₩

[@k1mgy]

As cool and complex and disciplined as a space shuttle launch! Great focus, comms, crm, everything! What a privilege to be aboard as FO! Congratulations Kermit!

[@scottsosss]

Looks like a lot of experience on the flight deck, nobody started doing this recently.

[@stevecuz4751]

What a beautiful ship. The exhaustive checklist schedule(s) were amazing to witness.

[@whatwhat1574]

these guys have literally the coolest job in the entire world

[@gat6186]

How cool is this? I had never heard of the Martin Mars but thanks to the wizard of Orlampa and his kermie cam i definately have a new respect for these giants and the work they do. Thank you Kermit

[@BelusTraveller]

I never knew it was so technical, Very much respect for the Captain and Crew of this big bird, Belus

[@57Raz]

Wow. Welcome to crew resource management on a working aircraft! What an awesome experience... a little rough for the new guys always but what a great opportunity to have with such a wonderfully knowledgeable and professional bunch of guys.

[@bassmith448bassist5]

Awesome video. They treated Kermit like a full-time crewman. Amazing the amount of crew coordination required to operate this machine. Not simply flying her but the water pickup and release. I have never seen the flaps used to control speed and lift like that before. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[@the1realanalogman]

What a wonderful experience! Well done Kermit, as always. I had no idea so much collaboration was required to fly this beautiful ship! No one Can relax for more than a second! Even I couldn't! Thanks for letting us share the ride!

[@jerrytee2688]

That is just some cool-ass shit, no matter how many times I watch it.

[@dougscott8161]

When the whole crew coordinates together perfectly like that, they make flying that beautiful monster look like a piece of cake. Thank you, Kermit for sharing still another beautiful video with us. If they decide to retire either or both of those beauties, I sur hope you can be there to rescue them and bring them home to Orlampa.

[@garyhutchinson7159]

These videos are pure gold..

[@mrvoyagerm]

Fantastic to see these guys in action. All business, no bull, pure professionalism. I used to say to my Dad, "that was a pretty boring flight" and he would smile and say "Your Welcome".

[@mongolike513]

Kermit and the martians! My favourites. Kermit I think the boys were a little nervous at times so I thank you for not doing any aerobatic routines. All of you are where we’d be, your audience, if we knew how to pilot an aircraft or two. Sweet.

[@AlexAnder-ut9es]

Wow! Imagine that these were designed 80 years ago to be flown by 25 year olds in bad weather, poor visibility and possibly under fire even though they have enormously complex take-off, operating and flying procedures and had no radar or modern avionics.

[@GenasysMech]

So mighty nice.....what an era.

[@christarves167]

I was lucky to spend many summers at Sproat Lake. when I was a kid. Loved watching these incredible planes, practicing etc. Always went to look at them on boat rides.

[@Sirmellowman]

this looks so fun to be a part of the crew and all working together.

[@TheTorakka]

Large quantity of thank you from Finland on doing these videos. You seems to have a knack for asking the right questions. :)

[@MrMiturn]

Can only imagine the concentration level flying a big bird like that down amongst those hills, I didn't blink for the whole time and I was only watching a video, thanks to all involved

[@laura-ann.0726]

I visited Sproat Lake in 2007, and both of the planes were there, on their moorings. Someday soon, I suppose they will both be retired to museums, but these videos will still be on KZbin, as memorials to these magnificent airplanes, and all of the people who designed, built, maintained, and crewed them since WWII. I've "flown" the Hawaii Mars in the FSX flight sim - a pale ghost of the real thing, I admit - but even so, it felt amazing. I have sims of the Grumman HU-16 Albatross and the G-21A Goose, and they are all incredibly fun to operate off water. The visuals of the water spray off the hull in the simulation are very crude, since there isn't enough processing power in a desktop PC to have fully realistic graphics of the water spray, but I can watch these videos of the Hawaii Mars and insert the visuals in my imagination when I fly the Mars in simulation. Thank you for posting these vids!

[@MrPlusses]

Have seen it land and take off many times but I've never seen a view from the cockpit. Thanks for posting.

[@nozmoking1]

What a magnificent privilege it must be to fly one of the greatest aircraft ever produced. And yes, I resent people that make a living having fun, but I'm sure grateful you share the experience.

[@12345fowler]

The exterior shot with the plane crawling / taxying is quite something

[@Paughco]

Thank you for posting this fine video. I totally agree with William Haley's observations below. I got to sit in the pilot's seat on that aircraft back around 1955 or so at NAS Alameda. I was about 9 years old at that time.

[@jimbaritone6429]

Thank you for this great video! When I was young our family often visited Vancouver Island, and we would always stop at Sproat Lake to see these magnificent aircraft. My dad flew twin-engine night fighters all through WWII, and single & multi piston-engine aircraft after the war. So, he felt very much at home with the pilots and crews. I know he would have felt right at home in that cockpit today, and he would have loved this video. Many years later, I remember seeing the Hawaii Mars at work, doing scoop-and-drop on a nearby runaway forest fire. It was a very hot, dry season in B.C. and Alberta, with many large fires. The Hawaii Mars, as well as many twin-engine CL-215's were hard at work. It was wonderful to watch the Mars in action. The Martin company engineers would, I think, be very proud of the great aircraft they built.

[@jasb78]

Not a single computer aboard that airplane. All hand-flown. Wow! Just wow!

[@angelreading5098]

What a fantastic flight you have brought us there Kermit,the combined workload in that cockpit is brought home in this video,this sure is a unique machine,thanks for sharing this monster with us all.

[@bcabmac]

One part of training for a new crew member is not just learning reading the aircraft but also reading the crew as they task. I watched the training video so I hope that means I can log a few hours now. These guys aren't just stewarts of the airplane but also the knowledge for maintaining flight capability. And to pass it on. Thanks for sharing an inside look.

[@fw1421]

What a wonderful opportunity for Kermit. I’m sure this is the largest aircraft he’s flown on,well at least Warbirds.

[@yarharyar]

What a beast of a machine.

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Kermit, that was absolutely fantastic!!!!!

[@MonkPetite]

This is awesome... well done Kermit,,,!!!!!! I very much like the way instructions where given. Clear with no confusion. Perfect team work

[@terryallen9546]

Man! The cool stuff youtube selects for me. This is a good one.

[@thequietrebel7695]

Imagine one of these converted into a private luxury airliner like the old school flying clipper ships!

[@allanblack294]

Thanks Kermit. She flies like most other 4 motor airliners, until she alights on the water, then everything changes.

[@TumzDK]

Dear Mr. Weeks. Again, thank you so muck for doing these videos! Please keep them coming! Kind Regards, Tomas, Denmark

[@brianemery8945]

I don't want to say Kermit was intimidated in that cockpit. But with that coordinated of a crew and that enormous bird. I'm sure he wasn't feeling on top of his game here. Non the less. Awesome communication and great flying. That had to be amazing!

[@MarcvanExel]

Pretty freaking awesome! And very nice to see Peter at work.

[@andrewnewman6451]

What I wouldnt give to get my sweaty little hands on this beauty !! I visited the Solent Sky museum in Southampton last year with another flying mate of mine, the curator kindly let us enter the Flight deck of the Sandringham (AKA Sunderland) they have there. We sat in the pilots seats for ages going through the Check-list, and after about a half an hour we came to the conclusion that we could fly it "no problem"......but having watched this I am not so sure lol. If you are in the UK please visit this brilliant little museum they have some fantastic exhibits and the staff are knowledgable and kind.

[@shortribslongbow5312]

Outstanding video thanks for the ride. Teamwork makes it all happen, well done.

[@myronhorvathsk]

What a magnificent aircraft. My hats off to the crew on this plane. So much coordination to make each mission a success !!

[@videopokernetwork6824]

Best 40 minutes I've spent all week. Well Done!

[@arnhemseptember2009]

Fascinating. They have really thorough procedures..

[@johnpickens448]

Thanks for posting this. Sorry to see that the Mighty Mars may never fly again. Great to have this video to see what it was like to fly. What a beautiful aircraft!!!

[@ronmoore5827]

That was amazing sir. Thank you so much for sharing. Love the parts where you guys stand up and look out the roof. Can't do that in a 172.

[@danielledykgraaf6483]

Mr. Week sir. You rock man!.......add the Mars to your experiences. I would just love to see one.....you seen it......boarded it....steered it......preflighted it.....flew it.......YOU DA MAN. Only respect can get you in the right-hand seat. Wow......all i have to.say is wow. Love your videos sir..keep em coming.

[@UKPete]

Fantastic video, thanks for making it and giving us all an insight into what it's like to fly an a Martin Mars!

[@richardross3815]

Never get tired of watching this one. The real pity is that its not an amphib....lol.....she sure would look nice sitting on the tarmac at Abbotsford Airshow. Closest I ever got to her was the bar across the lake......thank you for this excellent series....

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

THAT's Teamwork. Wonderful Airplane and filming.

[@robertmannel4446]

Whoever designed and built these beautiful monsters? I love you and your fantastic engineering. The love of flying gave birth to these beauties! Thank you, Kermit Weeks for your passion, and sharing with us earthbounds. Love it!

[@Spitsz01]

What a beautiful boat! Thank you for sharing.

[@76guzzi78]

That was freaking Awesome! Well done to all the crew!

[@donaldholman9070]

Absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing. Such a great plane.

[@bobbreit5244]

WOWZA! What a team effort. Thanks for the inside look. Much respect!

Great plane and nice flying!!!

[@TheOnlooker65]

This an enormous beast and to the uninitiated, very difficult. Thank you. Absolutely fascinating.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

What a great day. I was once in the wrong place at the wrong time under a Mars dropping a load. It was foamed and was up my toosh, ears, eys and nose. Pretty much in every orfice I have, LOL. Crazy experiance for sure, LOL.

[@kentfield2205]

Wow! Amazing video and audio. Thank you Peter and Kermit.

[@gersonsalcedo]

Engineering rules the world. This super machine is amazing!

[@walliehart2055]

NICE! Kermit made a commendable effort, but " PETER WAS KILLIN IT" great video many thanks.

[@mudkow5092]

Great video. Could be an entire course in CRM. Looks like a handful, especially during a fire.

[@brokefarmerjohn2422]

Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Really cool stuff. Beautiful plane

[@rodkeays8171]

Lucky to have such great instructors.

[@serlingdavis8840]

Yes indeed!

[@rex201301]

Wow , what an awesome video ! Beautiful plane and area . I have a great poster from Vertical magazine on my wall in my office , with this plane parked and it's support heli flying on and over my lake down here in So Cal . Great stuff !

[@shawnmcintyre4773]

That was great thanks for taking us along !

[@BEvans-sb3lp]

Gotta love cross-checks in the cockpit!

[@locketom]

I have a place at Sproat Lake, where this plane and 2 other Mars bombers used to live, and have seen them take off, land, do touch and goes many times. These are incredible machines.

[@boatrat]

Yeeks. What a handful. What're there... FIVE normal active crew positions just to run this monster? Not including the extra "trainer" role of the guy talking over Kermit's shoulder in this case? That's TWO flight engineers (one of whom I think I heard also doing a "walkaround"), PLUS the bow-man (the other mentioned walk-around)? Poor Kermit. He's just trying to learn about simply(?!) flying this beast. Turns out, you gotta learn the full business about everything involved with water-bombing, too!

[@JuicyFruityify]

Kermie, you are a god and the stuff you can fly! Here, you are in an entirely new realm! Flying an office building or flying a submarine... bit of both.

[@Bigmack573]

Fabulous video of a big complicated giant of an airplane. I hope they keep both of them flying for a long time Well done Kermit Downunder Lindsay

[@amlxc5]

Thank you for sharing this video! I had no idea about the history of this plane and I spent most of the video reading the wiki to catch up!

[@UmbrellaWatch]

Gotta have one of those awesome T-Shirts! ALOHA!!! That was awesome Mr. Weeks!!!!! Thank You!!!

[@jbburton5928]

That was intense had sweaty palms for ya wat a cool aeroplane great vid

[@michaelgolledge5766]

That was outrageous kermit!! Thanks for a great video!!

[@mattinsley1721]

An amazing and complex aircraft if the ever was one. I know that these aircraft are being phased out of service. I sure would hope that you , one day, end up with this wonderful machine. F.O.F. would be a great home for her.

[@halnwheels]

My wife wants to know why you refer to it as “landing” when it’s on water. You gotta give her credit for such a provocative question!

[@zetyfamily2539]

Amazing thanks for the tour

[@APilotsHome]

Kermit, you did great!

[@philipm7054]

Those voice activated throttles are cool. He says climb power etc and the throttles move by themselves.

[@ianwhite6061]

Engineer does it...they are linked

[@MichaelVanHeemst]

Philip Manning yeah how about that

[@insomniac3011]

Yep good old 1943 technology

[@SuperBuzz71]

@@ianwhite6061 You can always count on somebody to not get it. Thank you

[@weheka]

Philip...heads.....over..

[@MrROTD]

I got to see these planes in flight they were used for firefighting in Okanagan fires 2003. I lived in Penticton, impressive sight to see them flying over you

[@MrFranciscovenci]

I can watch this all day Thank you for sharing love it

[@deronlewis6465]

Wow! Thanks for sharing! What a great view into the art and skill of all involved. Makes me sad to know however that it's not something that can continue for these great aircraft and their crew!

[@shovelreccy]

What a workload. Excellent .

[@tatersalad9416]

Graceful landing. Great video, thank you.

[@captsam54]

lol.. I bet a famous singer guy named "Jimmy" has watched this... and loved it.. frickin awesome..

[@brettany_renee_blatchley]

Flying the Mars is a _Team Sport_ 😊

[@robertsanders6463]

Amazing assistance Mr. 1st Officer. So cool and explaining the where's and whys. Well done. Amazing video . I am a little late to watch! LOL