Are there any piston fire bombers still working?

[DB2]

I stay reasonably plugged in to the Twin/Turbo Commander world and have never heard of converting Shrikes to turbine power. I can't imagine that would make any financial sense. The only Shrike engine conversions I'm aware of are the Merlyn conversions to TIO-540s (turbocharged piston) and some Colemill conversions to IO-520s (I think). The main Twin Commander fire operators (e.g., Spur, Ponderosa) have been selling off their Shrikes for 690A/B Turbo Commanders (which are turboprops with the TPE-331-5 or -10).

[shrike]

Spur and Ponderosa are essentially the same company.

We had done their 540s (and slightly oddball ones they were too) until they started switching to turbines. Word was, at that time that they were going to convert the airframes to turbines as they had a decent sized fleet with all of the other accoutrements. That may well have petered out as uneconomical, or could have been just wrong info. Like I said, it was work and when we stopped doing their recips, it stopped being a concern.

[exhaustgases]

I guess I put the wrong title on this thread. How many multi row radial engine fire bombers are still working? I didn't realize there were small ones being used.

[quemerford]

I guess I put the wrong title on this thread. How many multi row radial engine fire bombers are still working? I didn't realize there were small ones being used.

Which color?

[pjpahs]

don't know if it's been mentioned ,but the July issue of the EAA. magazine, Sport Aviation has a good article on flying firefighters.

[phil65]

They are going to put on a show at Osh.

Phil

[Mick G]

Are the two surviving Martin Mars, retired?

I know one was damaged at Oshkosh.

Saludos,


Tulio

No the Philippine last flew on contract in 2006,. The Hawaii had a brief contract in 2015, other than the 2016 Oshkosh Fly-In and subsequent incident, they are not flown or in active-service.

[Blackbirdfan]

Are the two surviving Martin Mars, retired?

I know one was damaged at Oshkosh.

Saludos,


Tulio

No the Philippine last flew on contract in 2006,. The Hawaii had a brief contract in 2015, other than the 2016 Oshkosh Fly-In and subsequent incident, they are not flown or in active-service.

No they currently aren't flying, but could and Hawaii Mars could be ready for work inside of a week of being called for. Philippine needs new tank door seals, but everything is there and could be brought on line if needed. BC is playing politics and Coulson can't get a contract for any of his helicopters, C130s or Jets. That is why they are on US contracts.

Will

[exhaustgases]

Are the two surviving Martin Mars, retired?

I know one was damaged at Oshkosh.

Saludos,


Tulio

No the Philippine last flew on contract in 2006,. The Hawaii had a brief contract in 2015, other than the 2016 Oshkosh Fly-In and subsequent incident, they are not flown or in active-service.

No they currently aren't flying, but could and Hawaii Mars could be ready for work inside of a week of being called for. Philippine needs new tank door seals, but everything is there and could be brought on line if needed. BC is playing politics and Coulson can't get a contract for any of his helicopters, C130s or Jets. That is why they are on US contracts.

Will

So its like they want the fires! Nothing else makes sense. What is needed is for some company to build more martin like fire planes. Some years back someone was building a new fire fighter plane that required R-2800's I for get who that was.

[JohnB]

Some years back someone was building a new firefighter plane that required R-2800's I for get who that was.

That was some years back.
The CL-215 was produced from 1969 to 1990. Superseded by a turbine, the CL-415.