Martin Mars Water Bomber to be Retired

After 52 accident free years of distinguished fire fighting service in British Columbia Canada and beyond. The Martin JRM Mars the worlds largest successfully operated flying boat is facing a forced retirement, since our provincial government minister of forests Steve Thompson has declared the Mars too old and ill equipped for use in modern firefighting subsequently cancelling its fire contract for 2014 instead opting for the much smaller single engine 802 Fire Boss fleet run by Abotsford based Conair.The last 2 flying Mars aircraft since 1961 , the Philippine and Hawaii Mars have racked up an impressive record of fire fighting excellence dousing countless forest fires for nearly five decades.The Philippine Mars was retired in 2007 a victim of cutbacks for firefighting aircraft across BC. the Philippine is now being restored for a brief return to flight for a one way trip to Pensacola Florida Naval air museum. The Hawaii Mars's future as an active flying aircraft is now uncertain. Its fire contract expired in September and performed its last flight and water drop on September 1st 2013 and is now inactive on dry dock never to fly again for many years possibly until the Philippine Mars preps for the big trip to Florida The Hawaii Mars is up for sale for $3 million. The day when the mighty Mars flies away from Sproat Lake and the Alberni Valley for the very last time may not be far off. These are some footage of the Hawaii Mars on firefighting and test missions in the summer of 2013 knowing full well that her water bombing days were numbered. The Coulson Group Co,will be replacing the iconic Mars for the more modern C-130 Hercules which looks a little like like the Mars. They will be used all over the US and Australia, which was Coulson's original purpose for the Mars planes until the customer base dwindled to zero. Not sure about the C130's working in Canada after the whole Thompson affair unless the Liberal Govt get ousted after next elections
As of now some of you are aware that the Hawaii Mars has been temporarly taken out of retirement due to the extreme drought and fire situation which also coincided with the scheduled flight training of 12 Chinese pilots to prepare for China's new AG 600 flying boat, a possible Mars replacement

[@rEdf196]

Today the Martin Mars is up for sale for around $ 3M There has been a push from locals who want to keep the Hawaii Mars in our town as a roadside tourist attraction which I personally don't agree with because of the cost and commitment to keeping it in top shape year after year and limited tourist potential or possible risk of falling into disrepair and abandonment . I think it should go to a proper aviation museum where it will be better maintained and be alongside other great classic aircraft and represent the rarity and uniqueness of the Mars flying boat.

[@davidsoom6383]

Has anyone approached Kermit ? He needs another flying boat.

[@jdrosner1]

a museum owned by a company with some aerial firefighting chops perhaps? kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXy8eqGZpNmLr5I

[@rEdf196]

NEWS FLASH ! The Martin Mars has been suddenly brought out of fire fighting retirement due to the extreme fire situation including my area near Sproat lake where a major fire broke out on July 4th and has spread rapidly engulfing Dog mountain. If our Mars was in service prior to the outbreak it might of had a good chance of quickly containing this blaze, but instead we had to wait over 2 hours for Two L188 Electra's from Abbotsford dropping red retardant to little avail. There were no water scooper planes either, our province has only 4 cute little single engine Fire Boss planes which of course they already have their hands full fighting other fires around BC. So much for new efficient technology Mr Steve(cheapskate) Thompson.

[@306champion]

Bring them out to Australia, we could put em to good use and our summer is your winter!

[@goober239]

Australia REALLY needs this aircraft right now.

[@Fk67Lg]

steve should have waited to mothball the plane until after the fire season danger was minimal.

[@rickoffermann8615]

And now the BC government has finally renewed their contract for 2015!! We badly need the Martin Mars in BC right now... Good to see her back!

[@rEdf196]

Im not so sure about that. I heard its was only a rumor.

[@davidsoom6383]

As a young man I spent a summer crewing on the Mars and as a pilot too working my way up it was a pleasure to just be able to work as one of the support crew. At night we'd bring aboard our girlfriends and camp on the wings. On maintenance flights we'd get some right seat time and years later I'd fly a PBY fire eater like Al the Pal. The Mars are unbelievably large in every respect. After takeoff there were problems with the water coming off the hull onto boats beneath. (I'm not talking about a drop just the residual water. Boats would intentionally try and catch the runoff but usually only once. If the water didn't get them the authorities would. How stupid would you have to be to attempt such a thing? At eight pounds per gallon falling at 32 ft. per sec. per sec.!!!!!!!! A full drop would knock over trees like matchsticks. But now they have the "heavy jets" which are just not the same at all.

[@margotmaines7427]

@davidsoom6384 I had the unexpected privilege of having one of the two Martin Mars still in service at the time land in Lake Cowichan to pick up water. I was in Youbou having lunch when I heard this tremendous roar and sprang out of my seat to see this. I was THRILLED! As to those dough head boaters .. ya can't fix stupid, can ya?!!

[@MrKaitland]

WITHOUT DOUBT, AN AWESOME MACHINE, built by men with balls and vision many years ago. Thank you CANADA for keeping her alive all these years. You guys are AWESOME. I love Canada!

[@408knw]

Perhaps the provincial government minister of forests has lost his mind?

[@AlfOfAllTrades]

She is absolutely, astonishingly beautiful. Such a shame to put her on the ground, knowing what she can do.

[@ItsYaBoy510]

I witnessed one scoop water 3x from Lake Tahoe 2 weeks ago. Awesome experience. I have video of it that I will soon upload.

[@blancolirio]

A very Impressive record indeed! Thanks so much for posting...and not altering the audio. Thanks too for filling us in on the fate of these national treasures. JB

[@joeshmoe7967]

Summer 2021, British Columbia, I wonder what they were using for all the burning. Such an awesome plane. Never saw it fly, but just viewing them anchored at Sproat Lake was pretty cool

[@jensfridthjof]

Is there any chance Burt Rutan could keep the thing flying, or, alternativerly, build another flying boat of a proper size to fight out-of-control forest fires? I like the idea of scooping up water from lakes or the sea, and having a C-130 do it sounds risky.

[@KOakaKO]

+Jens Knudsen - Rutan could build anything you like. Who's going to pay for it, though?

[@davefox8948]

Hard to believe. With all the stupid amounts of money that the any billionaire has at their disposal, nobody wants to invest in these epic survivors of aviations golden age to keep them doing something useful. Better to blow $100 mil on a personal jet.

[@harleyray6642]

years and years of success fighting big fires with big planes. Now some bean counter is going to re invent the wheel (Steve Thompson). Tiny planes dropping tiny amounts of water,makes sense right ? DUH!!! Christie Clark is nothing but a PHOTO OP QUEEN!! Martin Mars Water Bomber Belongs on Vancouver Island and should have contract for fire fighting in B.C. Next summer is going to be dryer than 2015 (climate change). Do we have to go thru anther local emergency while the plane sits next door to a major fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[@rEdf196]

As of now 4/16/2015 I have heard no word of when (if ever) The Philippine Mars will be departing for Florida, its been ready to fly for almost 3 years now. Today the Mars bomber base seems to have been deserted since November 2014. Even the Hawaii Mars's propellers havn't been re-positioned in their usual X formation after the previous engine run. The area lights stay on 24/7. I hope there is some kind of good video security system there, or someone guarding the place I wouldn't want no drunken punks to do vandalism or steal stuff. My guess is The Coulson group are doing work in Australia with their new C-130 planes. I would love to see the Coulson Hercs do work here in BC.in the summer.

[@knightflightvideo]

Awesome footage of this giant and iconic flying boat! Have seen a docu of the Coulson MARS on german TV, and I wish one of them would have come once time to an european airshow.:-)

[@freedomforever6718]

Absolutely fantastic! I hope "Hawaii Moon" is either still flying or at least preserved in an aircraft museum.

[@rEdf196]

Today, 6/25/ 2016 I learned that Philippine Mars's, on again, off again, move to Pensacola Florida is apparently not gonna be happening after all. at least until the US elections are over,or so they say. Weather it goes to Florida in the future (if ever) is anybody's guess, But word has it that the Hawaii Mars is being prepped for a trip to the Oshkosh Air Show in July for a in flight display and water drops.

[@hoss73ford]

I just wish our flying history wouldn't end up in some museum never to fly again. That just makes me sick to no end. People will pay to see it fly in air shows

[@hoss73ford]

Thats great news on the Hawaii Mars. In the air where she belongs.

[@brianbuday8639]

rEdf196 we need her in 2018 is she airworthy to pick up and drop water? I think they positioned stress sensors around the plane. Great aircraft!!! Saw her put out a mill fire in New Westminster when I was a kid. Awesome sight😎

[@jakegiles2]

I was so fascinated by these 2 when i was younger living on the island. i remember going under them boating on sproat lake on multiple occasions and seeing them fly overhead oh so slowly very often. gonna miss not seeing either of them anymore. quite historic aircrafts

[@randywinner111]

Literally breaks my heart! These are the work horses of fire fighting. Even though I'm an American in Idaho I know what "better to put too much on than to little" goes a long ways when bringing down the heat. There was no replacement for this tool to combat fire then and there is none now. Jets can't do what this 50 year old plane can do!!? What is with the egg heads who put pen to paper? I can understand economics and know what trying to save a dime is,,,,,but spending thousands to just save a few cents makes no sense. We in the Northwest,,,,United States and Canada need these planes. Look at the 2015 fire season. It was a debacle of not have the resources to put on site at the right moment. These planes "Put Boot To Ass" with fires. And you dont get rid of something until you have something to replace it. I wish we could get a fund me started on the last plane to keep it in service until a replacement can be found and then get a museum here in the Northwest put together and keep her right where she is.

[@Flightstar]

If the airframe is still up to the job, there should be some consideration to re-engine it with turboprops.

[@garlinmiller5808]

11-17 2016 great video and a great plane. loved watching

[@patbarrett9263]

AS A PILOT, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PUCKER FACTOR WHEN GETTING THAT BIRD UP AND OVER THE TREES, GOOD PILOT AND GREAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

[@bbbushhh]

Martin Mars....the musket of modern firefighting. This is where all the cheerleaders start telling me that I don't know what I am talking about...I love it when they do that:)

[@MrBillyFrancis]

..the fact that all the pine in the province is dead provides a great opportunity for a fire to take place .. we will see fires...

[@KOakaKO]

+Sherry Granger - I haven't been up there for about 15 years now, but I remember the bark beetles were starting to move in and kill trees at the time. Have they turned into a big darned problem over the last decade or two, or is this a new problem for the pine forests?

[@mikesarahmccourts6509]

Why would you ever retire this amazing machine we need this now more than ever!!!!!!

[@tha_bludger1210]

its in australia now it was droping water on a massive fire about the same size as fort mc murry fire

[@TuffBurnOutTeam]

Jordan's vlogs And which Lake did they have it sitting on for storage

[@efo1358]

Pretty Amazing that this Bird was flying in the BayArea at Alameda AFB! She Served 🇺🇸💪❤️🦅

[@rEdf196]

Today the Hawaii Mars is active again until this Sunday August 11 when she will be leaving my hometown forever on her final flight to Victoria BC Canada to a large aviation museum. The same will soon happen to the Philippine Mars with her final flight to Tucson Arizona air museum in the US.

[@georgekrietemeyer3714]

This aircraft will make an excellent addition to the Naval Aviayion Museum. You will get 7 Coast Guard C-139's to replace her, CG will get 14 C-27J's and save the taxpayers $500 Million dollars. Good deal - right!!!

[@bobsmoth7837]

The Martin Mars drops 50 tons of water. The Chinese AG 600 drops 12 tons. One puts the fire out, the other only slows it down. I'll bet the insurance companies paying out on Fort Mac are wishing the Martin Mars had been used.

[@ohwell2790]

This is a good fate for an airplane that has given such good service ( all those who maintained and flew them ) all these years. This airplane could have been cut up for scrap. These airplanes will be preserved. It is to bad they will not be displayed in Canada.They will be seen by future generations of people who will look in wonder of these great airplanes.

[@electro247365]

that beautiful sow, the mother earth suffering would have been avoided, we burned 20,000 hectares of forest and still can not turn it off, and if you make one last journey sow and you come south twine not all in life and we come to give one hand, you could die as a hero, and you have a million already would have ofrecido.hermoso video

[@hoss73ford]

I sure hope this bird makes it as an air show attraction and not some museum or worse the scrapyard. It makes me so sick that every year a little more history is lost for various reasons. As long as people pay to go to air shows, they will still fly unless the present generation wants nothing but jets (yuk!)

[@luchatrokaalvaradoguajardo5185]

a world legend

[@davewayne9610]

That is really sad news.

[@WayneMona1]

I always get goose bumps when I see the Mars. A real thing of beauty. And you guys that flew them,,,,,talent.

[@paulreeve8069]

I believe that the decision to retire the 2M-1R Mars/Martin JRM flying boats from "regular" service is prudent; materials used in the planes structures and power train were not likely considered by the designers to serve 50-60 years hence. It may be that the structural stress calculations by the designers were so conservative that disasters have been averted, but it would take very detailed structural inspection, read into that the use of ultrasonics and electret ping signatures for cracks, hardness, and materials changes, localized investigation of riveting zones, and sampling of critical engine components for fatigue, some of which may have been done, but probably not in the regularly scheduled maintenance of these marvelous birds. Would that there were enough people with deep pockets interested in preserving these in best condition so that future generations could witness them in flight!

[@ohwell2790]

That would be marvelous airplane, not bird. Nice try at trying to be smart. You would make a good smart ass.

[@patricioruiz3211]

CONAF DE CHILE NECESITA ESTOS AVIONES PARA APAGAR LOS INCENDIOS FORESTALES EN CHILE.

[@JohnCelona-o5i]

Just a beautiful girl. Look at her! My recent screenplay’Floating Laura’ features the Mars.

[@belknapdlg26]

I see everyone is having a stroke over these old flying boats. You gotta remember it's the cost. if something breaks on these, you just don't go to the nearest Ace hardware and buy a part. It either has to be NOS or machine what you need. And it takes a special kinda machinist to make these parts. Not that I don't wanna see them in the skies, it's just impossible and impractical to maintain them.

[@rEdf196]

I read a similar story in our local news paper in the late 1970's stating the exact same thing about special parts and the high cost of maintenance, and that was in 1976

[@tracyma6024]

belknapdlg26 and,.123457890-&&).?',,. Aiden

[@sophiejaysstuff4026]

Negative nanny. How much does an old POS C-130 cost to operate?

[@desosa7137]

My grandma lives on that lake and every time we would see that big puff of smoke and those pistons Poppin we would be running down the hill to get in that boat and chase that plane down and watch it take off every time it always seemed like art to me seeing this fly just such a beautiful picece and truly nothing like it sad that it's just sitting now but i will forever hold on to those memories chasing it and everyone at the lake would to it was just awesome to see and always go every year to take a look at it

[@hermit1249]

I can understand retiring them but they're being replaced with nothing anywhere near as effective.

[@HellzNord]

I would so buy that and turn it into my own personal air yacht lol

[@gowron277a]

Very sad that they may never fly again. These 2 birds belong in the air.

[@rEdf196]

***** Actally the Hawaii Mars has been brought out of retirement( for now) in early July due to the extreme fire outbreaks, we had a big fire close to home that got out of control when 2, L188 Auroras that did little to douse the blaze finally arrived almost 3 hours too late while the Mars bomber was dry docked . A lot of locals were upset.

[@gowron277a]

Oh did not know this. Thnx for clearing that up.

[@TheSirjohn2012]

The best place for this beast is in my homestate of California and in san diego would be the ideal place for this old bird. Can someone send out an e mail to the California division of forestry and let them know that this airplane would be excellent for our state.

[@redf1966]

Retirement isnt a done deal for Hawaii Mars quite yet. The Coulson group are looking to the US or Mexico for possible work. However the Philippine Mars (navy blue) will soon be flying again for 1st time in 7 years in preparation for one way trip to Florida Naval museum There will be a big sendoff party live music, drinking, partying,BBQ. I will be there 4shure with beer and video cam what a sad day it will be.

[@markgallicano]

rEdf196 Did they invite Steve Thomson and the jackass's at the BCFS

[@ohwell2790]

Screw California. There is no place in the F---ked up state for anything as great as this plane is!

[@yvonneschambach-mcsharry2529]

@@ohwell2790 I agree with you on screw Calif . but just so you know , their was a squardon of 5 ,I can only remember the name of 4 of the MARS seaplanes stationed at N. A . S. Alameda Calif !! That was across the bay from San Francisco . The way the story goes my dad flew the Hawaii Mars between N A S Alameda and Barbers Point Hawaii so many times , he wore a rut in the Pacific Ocean ! ! ! That trip was how I got my first airplane ride .Their are many more stories ! Alan Mc Sharry

[@rEdf196]

Major Update!, while fighting the unprecedented wildfires raging in Australia One of Coulson’s Groups big C130 Hercules planes Has Crashed killing all on board. This really Sucks. I always worried this could happen. My heart goes out the victims families and the people of Australia dealing with the fires there.

[@margaretdelcuze3764]

My dad flew it in WWII..I bet he could have landed on the Hudson!

[@bobreeser3383]

this was my dad's plane during Korea war.

[@bobreeser3383]

This is my.dads plane from the Korea war

[@simonrussell6884]

It must cost an obscene amount of money to keep her airworthy

[@davem5333]

Unfortunately the long term survival prospects for the Mars doesn't look good. Keeping it in operation is not going to last forever. Replacement parts will get rarer and more expensive, eventually becoming unavailable at any cost. Corrosion will be a battle. It would preferably be kept inside. An expensive proposition to find a hangar big enough. But that would save on maintenance and preservation costs. Be cheaper in the long run. Although a desert location like Pima might work. Getting it there as it a straight seaplane complicates things. To cover the cost the museum would have high traffic to generate the revenue to cover transport and setup costs. Where to locate the display is a good question.

[@wesleymccurtain166]

They should replace it with newer, efficient flying boats because the flying boat design is so good for firefighting! It saves time!

[@redf1966]

When it comes to designing new aircraft. Builders need to spend big money and plan decades in advance to be assured that there will be a market for their new product which can take up to 20 years,or more, to design and build . like the design of the A380 and 787 for example I doubt there would be a market for a new big flying boat.Too heavy and double the cost of maintainence and much lower fuel efficiency. The very reasons most were phased out at the end of WW2. We now have the DC 10 and 747 tankers and can land on numerous airfields where lakes are few and far between.So in the face of new technology and arrival of the jet age in firefighting .the Mars and the large flying boat fire concept is fast becoming old school..

[@wesleymccurtain166]

rEdf196 I have heard but not confirmed they plan to use modified Q400s as air tankers too.

[@redf1966]

wesley mccurtain I have seen pictures of the Q400 tanker planes. I like the Q400 alot,sleek fast and efficient and big like the old classic turbo propliners like the Viscount, HS748 and Convair 580, I believe the company is Conair (not the prisoner airline) they have a fleet of single engine pontoon scoopers and 2 or 3 big L188 Electra's and maybe CL 415' amphibious flying boats too. I Was at their airfield in the late 80's to see the Abbotsford Airshow They had older S2 Firecat's B26 Invaders and piston CL 215's It was an impressive sight. I hope Coulson's get another C-130 Hercules or 2 They would be a good replacement for the Mars..

[@wesleymccurtain166]

that q400 looks great!

[@69ChevroletNova]

Hey rEdf196 Is the girl 'Martin Mars' still at Sproat lake this year? just sitting out there?

[@rEdf196]

+69ChevroletNova Yup, she is, although now the Philippine Mars (blue plane) is now parked in front of the red and white Hawaii Mars so it can be launched sometime in spring or summer for its final mission to Florida Naval air museum. The Hawaii Mars's future is still unknown at present. Most likely it will go to another aviation museum. there is also a push to keep Hawaii Mars as a tourist attraction in my town, which I dont really support too well. I think it should go a proper aircraft museum like the Philippine Mars.

[@mazdarx7887]

China is building a huge one , Should be flying this year if not already flying, Supposed to carry 12 tons of water and it has retractable wheeles

[@takenbythewindNdrivenbythesea]

Beautiful aircraft

[@FEDERICOKUBRICK]

What the world needs now...

[@TheCannonofMohammed]

They could give this to MIT and their engineering students could maintain it FOR FREE and it could be used to ferry (at lo-cost or no-cost) students to Mexican spring break destinations for beers and fun.

[@jasondrummond9451]

Should send the Mars to Oz .... they could use a good firefighting plane about now.

[@scotabot7826]

Someone please disable the zoom function on this old guys camera, please!!!!!!!!

[@johngoodfellow320]

the gov have replaced them with single engine Air Tractor 802-F. Air Tractor planes

[@Maxum97SeaDoo91]

No Chinese Flying Boat will ever equal (or even come close) either of these Magnificent, Impressive beauties nor, their record number of years in service and fire drops. Are you listening China?...you just can't do it.....give it up now. The United States had it all over everyone else when we were making these Magnificent flying machines and their power-plants. No doubt the China version will be Turbine powered of some kind. Turbo prop maybe? Not to Mention,,,,they'll never equal the divine sounds of those big old 4360's humming along that captivate a large number of us. So many people will never understand why we sometimes just lose our F'ing minds when we hear one overhead or nearby and rush out of the house to get a glimpse of it no matter what the aircraft was.. Wife thinks I've lost it on a number of occasions doing such and even ridicules me for Loving to listen to a good video of one just starting up! They'll just never understand...will they?

[@rEdf196]

+william phillips Very true These new planes from China don't match the size and cool sounds of the good ol Mars. However I would give China credit for having the balls to actually design, build and eventually fly the new Ta600 flying boat. Some thing that, 10 years ago I thought would never happen. I think the west (US, Europe) have been a little too, jet crazy over the last 60 years. Countries like Russia are continuing to build new big prop aircraft like the AN70 and new flying boats both propeller and jet versions. I also Heard China is supposedly designing a 400 seat double decker propeller driven airliner too.

[@rEdf196]

+william phillips OOps forgot to mention that the engines on the Mars are the smaller 18 cylinder R3350, not the full size 28 cylinder R4360 but there was a later Mars model (Carolyn Mars) that did have the R4360 engine. Sadly it was wrecked on the ground by a fierce hurricane in 1961. 2 of the Carolyn's wings are still present at the Mars bomber base.

[@Maxum97SeaDoo91]

+rEdf196 R-3350's....Hmmm....for some reason thought they were 4360's as the cowlings certainly look big enough. Listening closely to this video I can definitely make out the beat of an 18 cylinder radial. Pure music to the ears and nearly emotional when I think back on it and what we achieved and they're still out there in various parts of the world serving well into their 60's and 70's (the engines and some of the aircraft). I truly wish I had been born 20 years earlier to be in the hey day of these aircraft. Those radials just captivate the soul and I can think of nothing better after retiring from the AF a few years ago to be blessed to be working for someone that maintains and maybe even restores these lumbering Masters of the skies for many years. Carolyn Mars...hadn't heard of that one. Phillippine and Hawaii Mars are the only 2 that I was familiar with. No doubt a Huge set of wings in storage! I had read somewhere that there were 4 of the Mars built? Any idea what octane grade they run? 100LL is pretty much the Aviation standard but certainly, there's something a bit higher available? I live in Northwest Florida about 50 miles from Pensacola and will do everything I can to see one of these Magnificent planes come to the Naval Museum. If they fly her here as it is rumored...that will be a fantastic day to be out in the boat or on the jet ski! Video and still camera's in hand and clicking/whirring away! I'd even get the old 35mm Nikon out for the occasion! If possible, would someone keep me up to date when this might happen? The Naval Museum doesn't have much info on it My 30 years in the Air Force had me maintaining the mainstay of Cargo Haulers: C-141 Starlifters, T-39 Saber Liners (though not a cargo hauler, shuffled plenty of High ranking Brass around, and Trained more than a few navigators), a few C-5 Galaxys as transients and for well over the past 25 years exclusively...the venerable work horse of the military in nearly any branch...the C-130 Hercules. Not a glamorous aircraft like these Mars but, Damn what a workhorse! She'll do so many things very well and it's gonna be a huge undertaking to find a replacement that can do everything our beloved Herc has done while she has taken us to every spot on Earth and back again and is still racking up the miles. I was lucky to have seen and worked on nearly every variant of it. You really gotta love a greasy nasty down in the dirt aircraft that'll haul the groceries in Humanitarian roles as well as Aerial Firefighting (I loved this aspect of operations), Getting down on the tree tops and dropping retardant, or Covertly hug the ground at 250 ft. in the dark while Terrain Following and re-fueling Helicopters you brought along for Armed escort to retrieve a downed pilot or CSAR mission, Orbit among the clouds and rain pure terror down on your enemy to keep our folks safe (AC-130A Gunship was the Best I've been involved with) take you through war and get you home no matter how bad you treat her. She's not a particularly comfortable plane by any means but, I trusted my life to her on a number of occasions and she always got us home with sometimes a little bit of coaxing and some nice talk after a string of expletives uttered while trying to get things back to how they should be. And if we couldn't fly with her wherever orders took us, we didn't sleep good 'til she was back home and bedded down for the night. She carried our souls with her as well as those of our friends and sometimes family. When one was lost, we all suffered and mourned but, we got back on our feet and gave them what they needed...constant attention and some TLC. I still work in the maintenance of them Maintaining Radar for the current AC-130U. Time to let the youngsters take the flightline side of it and get myself indoors as I age. If called on though, I'll have a bag packed and ready to go with the lads. There's probably a few things out there they haven't seen and I might just pickup a thing or 2 along the way. And if I don't come home...I'll be out there looking for my lost brethren before me. It'll be one hell of a party when we meet-up...Hope they have enough beer! One last thought one the "Herk" .......... If it were possible to send a C-130 airframe up into Space as a last parting shot from Earth, when there are no more in service, they could just Cargo strap my Coffin to the cargo floor and send me with her. And maybe, just maybe before I crawl in, a last request to the crew.... Hey Captain...let's just see what's out there beyond that Star to the left of us! Think the bar will be open when we get there? Wake me if you need anything (I worked Avionics but, was well versed in all aspects of her build and maintenance) otherwise, wake me when we get there...I'm gonna sleep a while. The old gal drained me mentally today and I need the rest. Damn, that one almost got to me...wanted to say that for years..... To this day though, any Radial captures my complete attention upon startup or hearing one in the distance. Been called crazy for coming out of the house looking skyward for it. Only those of us who truly love them will ever shed the tears over them when they're gone. I hope it never happens. With engine technology today, we could easily make more current versions of these engines and I have no doubts they'd be competitive and maybe even a bit more fuel efficient with the current crop of turbo-props given their uses being tailored to the need. If Dodge can pull 700Hp out of a 392 Cu. In. Hemi Challenger Hellcat, then a multi or even a single row radial could have some staggering output! Throw a shot of Nitrous in her for War Reserve or Emergency/Military Power setting when needed? Maybe without the Oil Leaks? Seal technology is so much better than back then. Even though there is at least one modern radial out there, you don't hear much about them. If the Chinese can pull off one similar to these beauties. they will have my attention as well as probably the rest of the aircraft-loving world's attention. Still, it will be Chinese and not one of our mighty symbols of engineering, technical achievement, Pride and Strength.that was the Pinnacle of the aircraft world as i view it was us during the war years and up into the 60's. Loved seeing those old Pratt& Whitney Neon clocks with the Mighty Eagle on them. That was America at our best. Can'leave out the others, Curtis-Wright, Lycoming, Warner, etc. just to name a few. Have to see if I can find one of those. Man I feel old now! Thank you very much for the video and information! I very much appreciate it!

[@KOakaKO]

+rEdf196 - You mean Caroline Mars. Damaged by Hurricane Freyda in Oct., 1962.

[@KOakaKO]

+william phillips - There were 6 of the Mars built. The first "Hawaii Mars" crashed and sank in the Chesapeake bay a few weeks after it's maiden flight - I read somewhere that the tail fell apart in flight. I couldn't tell you for sure, but I do know it was an "in-flight" incident. The "Philippine" and "Hawaii II" are still flight-capable, owned by Coulson group. The "Marianas" was converted to firefighting use in '59, crashed into a mountain near Vancouver in '61. The "Caroline", converted to firefighting use in '59, was destroyed in a hurricane in '62 while parked. And the "Marshall" suffered an engine fire in '50, while in Oahu. It sank. There WAS a prototype aircraft, first flown in '42, that was scrapped in '45. But it wasn't a "Mars". If you look at the pictures of it, that was a completely different design that the 6 Mars aircraft that Martin built. It's pretty obvious that after that prototype was flown the Mars planes were based on a totally re-designed airframe.

[@tree356]

Ever filmed anything before?... dayuuuum!

[@renatonehring7648]

Bratifull!

[@Pachuco6969]

If a person had no cargo could he fly the air craft with 2 engines Safely?

[@danmathers141]

I thought boats moving around it while it was taking off was unsafe.

[@ashleytonelli4202000]

no news on the water bomber

[@HessFilms]

Where's Mr. Week's?, he has the money to buy the Hawaiian Mars and take her too Florida...

[@jpatt1000]

I would love to see that happen! It would be cool to see it flying with the Sunderland! It would probably even be flown occasionally. (I've never had the chance to see the Mars in the air, but a stop at EAA in July would be great on the way to Pensicola! It would look lovely sitting on Lake Winnebago!)

[@HessFilms]

The guy loves Seaplanes and the history of them...

[@Makeitliquidfast]

Turn it into a restaurant and call it good

[@rEdf196]

Make a great billboard sign for a used car lot.

[@afinelookinggentleman2631]

Please Wayne! Can we keep her? Please? Can we? Can we? Can we? How about donate her to the city for a tax receipt when shes done, put up a building at Macleans mill, and give her her own building? Even better if she had her own building at the yard at Sproat lake. These planes are world famous. And after the service they have provided, they deserve to be payed homage. You know you don't want her going anywhere. I will buy you a beer if you keep her in town. I promise!

[@rEdf196]

In a perfect world he Martin JRM Mars would be displayed next to the H4 Hercules (spruce goose) or better yet the Space Shuttle or Concorde Its that good of a plane.

[@KOakaKO]

+rEdf196 - That's a good idea, actually. Take her to Oregon and put her next the H4. ;)

[@afinelookinggentleman2631]

+KOakaKO I'd rather see her stay where she did most of her career, in Port Alberni. Port Alberni loves her, and she, along with her sister saved much of the surrounding area, sometimes even right in town. These lovely planes may be loved worldwide, but are especially appreciated locally. How about keep her here in a forestry museum?

[@KOakaKO]

A fine looking gentleman - I read somewhere that Coulson wanted to move the plane to a Naval or Military History museum, probably somewhere in the U.S., because he'd determined that a museum in or around Port Alberni wouldn't support itself financially. Which, I suppose, is why 'Philippine' is supposed to fly to Florida. I don't know if this is true, so all I can say is that I read it somewhere. Still, seems to be something that Coulson would have said about the 'Hawaii'. Sitting next to the H4, I think, it would be preserved - but sitting where it is, it might just corrode away into nothing and disappear.

[@nono7984]

She costs lots to maintain compared to the newer aircraft. She is a beauty!

[@CrustyAbsconder]

Could Sully land that thing ?

[@bestamerica]

' this water tank airplane is a not really good design

[@wcresponder]

Why?

[@shamilton5989]

53 years of accident free fire fighting, not to mention the millions of miles flown for military service, ya I think it was more like exceptional design !

[@ohwell2790]

A person that can not even spell correctly would not know a good design from a hole in the ground.

[@redf1966]

Actually I am quite surprized the Mars has stayed in service this long. In my view they have been living on borrowed time since the end of the 1990s. We had our local industrial aviation tycoon Wayne Coulson stave off the inevitable when he purchased the planes in 2006 when the forest industries (now multinationals) opted out of the water bomber program.which it supported since the late 50s.

[@redf1966]

As of this posting (Aug 18/14) the Martin JRM Hawaii Mars water bomber is retired from fire fighting for good,and will likely be sold to some museum soon. Also Coulson's have purchased a second C 130 Hercules for fire fighting. probably in the U.S. until Mr Steve Thomson and his Liberal cronies get ousted. I also heard one of those Mars replacements the little single engine 802 Fire Boss had crashed no word of any injury or fatality. Soon the Philippine Mars (blue plane) will be flying again doing test flights for the final trip to Florida. Gone from my area 4ever and ever.

[@NWSanta]

So are both of the bombers now gone from Sproat lake? If one is still left then I should make my way up with the kids to show them a piece of true history! I've seen these birds in action and they are just simply amazing! There just doesn't seem to be anything with the same fire fighting power that these planes possess!

[@ohwell2790]

The fuel for these 4360"s radial engines is no longer available. That is 115/145 octane fuel for these engines to make their rated horse power. It would be interesting to see the cost of using turbo props like those on the C-130's of 3,800 shaft horse power on these air frames. Maybe the cost would prohibit that happening . I would bet that the cost of renewing the PW 4360's or replacing them with the turboprop Allison's would be about the same. The air frame modifications and the age of the plane would be a major consideration. Just a thought!