No doubt some of you have already heard that Coulson is retiring the Philippine Mars. From what I understand she had not flown in a few years. She is headed to a good home, the Pensacola Naval Air Museum where she will be loved by many. A story on the Philippine Mars retirement by the Times Colonist by be found here.
As I understand it, the Hawaii Mars will continue to fly for Coulson. At the time of this writing, Coulson has a webpage describing both the Hawaii Mars and the Phillipine Mars, that may be found here.
To the Philippine Mars, I have never met you but I know that you are one elegant lady of the skies, a large and elegant airplane. You have served long and well, first with the US navy and later as a water scooper capable of dropping 7,200 gallons of water/foam on fires. You will be loved and the folk at Pensacola will take good care of you. Perhaps one day I will go back to Pensacola and see you in the museum.
CAL FIRE (CDF) S2T Tanker 71 working Sawtooth Complex Fire (2006)
Sawtooth Complex Fire (Sept. 2006), San Bernardino County CA. Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service
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