daveymac82c wrote:
Hi there,
I thought I'd just add a little comment on the topic of the Martin Mars.
Both airplanes are for sale.
David: Thanks for the info. from British Columbia. I have been a great admirer of those two beautiful red and white Mars flying boats for many years and wish I had the opportunity to see them in action out there. They are a unique aviation treasure and they have done an outstanding job fighting forest fires in the Northwest.
I think the perspective of the Glenn L. Martin Museum and the perspective of myself and probably a lot of other aviation enthusiasts is that if the time is coming when these airplanes are not going to serve in an active firefighting role and are not going to continue to be maintained at the high level they have been, then it would a fantastic and legitimate opportunity to see one of the great aircraft flown to be seen on the East Coast for the first time in 50 to 60 years or more and to receive a final resting place in a museum at the site of its birth.
I think it would be great if these beautiful giant red and white flying boats could continue to be maintained at a high level and fly forever. Realistically, I don't know if that can happen or not. If not, I would think that preseving one in an approriate place like Maryland is not an unreasonable option.
Best wishes to you and everyone else who has benefitted from and enjoyed the Mars aircraft in Canada for the last 45 to 50 years.
Take Care,
Jim C.
