Martin Mars 2016

[helinut]

Just read online that the Martin Mars will be in Alberta as of Satuarday,too help out in Fort MacMurry

[davem]

Apparently just a rumour - shame!

https://www.facebook.com/coulsonflyingtankers/

[Blackbirdfan]

The way fires are already getting out of hand, someone should wise up and place Hawaii Mars on contract. Its not a matter of if it will be needed, but a matter of when. (That when has already happened for Alberta.) Canada doesn't have any DC-10s, and long runways for ground based attack are pretty well spread out. Lakes are another matter. In the big picture, its not even that expensive to have on a fire, especially since it can reload and return so quickly. One 3000 gal drop an hr at $10K/hr is kinda steep. 4 7200 gal loads per hr for the same price seems to be a better deal.

Will

[davem]

A little more detail in this article:

http://www.albernivalleynews.com/news/3 ... obile=true

[Steve T]

I continue to be impressed by the aerial firefighting community. Mr Coulson is under no obligation at all to explain why the Mars has not gone to Alberta; nonetheless he's gone to considerable lengths to do just that--and not via an intermediary, either! Less than an hour ago I had been sending reminiscences to Air Spray (their 50th anniversary is next year and they're collecting memories), having just come from donating to the Fort MacMurray relief efforts via the Canadian Red Cross (which made me think about Air Spray and check their website); a point I made in my reminiscences was about the exceptional hospitality shown to enthusiasts like me who're really only in the way...and such hospitality was universal at the several firefighting bases I visited on the trip in question. Mr Coulson's thorough response to what could simply be seen as nuisance questions from a public that doesn't have all the details is another case in point. Good on ya, tanker folks...and for those fighting the Fort MacMurray inferno...be safe.

(On a slightly different note, oh do I wish I could be at OSH to see the Mars...)

S.

[Blackbirdfan]

Looks like Coulson is seriously looking into selling Hawaii Mars now. http://www.albernivalleynews.com/news/3 ... obile=true

Will

[marine air]

I have a suggestion. WHen they take it to Oshkosh, demonstrate it. During the warbird show, when the pyro usually sets off some grass fires and there is plenty of smoke, have the Mars sneak in with a maximum load of water and drop it on the smoking area. How cool would that be?!!
Sometimes seeing is believing.

[phil65]

I have a suggestion. WHen they take it to Oshkosh, demonstrate it. During the warbird show, when the pyro usually sets off some grass fires and there is plenty of smoke, have the Mars sneak in with a maximum load of water and drop it on the smoking area. How cool would that be?!!
Sometimes seeing is believing.

[Lightning]

Howdy All

Kermit Weeks has just announced on his facebook page


"It seems I will be arriving at Oshkosh in style this year.

I cut a deal with Wayne Coulson to help get the Martin Mars to Oshkosh and plan on being part of the whole adventure from putting it in the water at Lake Sprout through ground school, eight hours of test-flying and training, and a nine-hour hop to Oshkosh for some airshow flying!"

https://www.facebook.com/KermitWeeks/ph ... =3&theater

Lightning

[Scooby]

My employer has moved two of our helicopters to the Fort Mac area.

We are Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service, we are a non-profit organization who are funded mainly by donations (60 million a year).

We operate 11 air ambulance helicopters (3 AW-139s & 8 BK-117s). Most of the aviation people are ex-military, our air medical crew are highly experienced critical care nurses and paramedics. We fly with one nurse and one paramedic, two pilots.

Yesterday we flew 40 medevacs.

Our latest AW-139 was the largest donation in Canadian history to a non-profit organization, which was 26 million dollars. The helo with the medical interior was 17 million, the rest built us a brand new hangar.

[quemerford]

Howdy All

Kermit Weeks has just announced on his facebook page


"It seems I will be arriving at Oshkosh in style this year.

I cut a deal with Wayne Coulson to help get the Martin Mars to Oshkosh and plan on being part of the whole adventure from putting it in the water at Lake Sprout through ground school, eight hours of test-flying and training, and a nine-hour hop to Oshkosh for some airshow flying!"

https://www.facebook.com/KermitWeeks/ph ... =3&theater

Lightning

Lake Sprout?

[marine air]

a friend's wife told me that last week her husband had informed her that he was travelling to Oshkosh with me again this year on a guys only trip. I explained "Well last year we went because we wanted to go. This year we are going because we NEED to go.
I think seeing Kermit Weeks arrive in a Mars is as close as we will ever get to seeing a reincarnated Howard Hughes flying the Spruce Goose.
Kermit flying the Sunderland was really cool. Had no idea it would be one of the last flights of the type. That was 30 years ago.

[Lynn Allen]

Is Buffalo Joe and Buffalo Air doing any air work over there??

[CAPFlyer]

Rob put up pics of one of the L188s fighting around Red Deer the last couple of days. Don't know what their other units have been up to.

[Matt Gunsch]

If Kermit is flying in the Mars to Oshkosh, I would not be surprised if it did not end up going home with him to Fantasy of Flight.