Hawaii Mars in New Home

On Aug 16th I shared that Coulson's Hawaii Mars was retired and flew to her new home at the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria, British Columbia.Enjoy these photos. You may read this Facebook Post from the British Columbia Aviation Museum to learn more about the preparations for the official grand opening of the Hawaii Mars display on September 28th.

   

Hawaii Mars Retired to British Columbia Aviation Museum

Back in late 2009 when I first started writing about aerial wildland firefighting, I was watching live stream of wildland firefighters on the ground and in the air working a large wildfire in the Los Angeles area. I was mesmorized when I first saw the Hawaii Mars working the fire. My friend Tom Janney was available over e-mail and the telephone he told me about the Hawaii Mars, one of two Martin Mars still active at the time and owned by Coulson Aviation. I watched the stream for several minutes. I recall that she went around once or twice before starting her run to drop on the wildfire. Watching her was one of the most incredible experiences, something I remember to this day almost 15 years later.

Coulson announced several months ago that the Hawaii Mars would be donated to the British Columbia Aviation Museum, the preparatory work was done ahead of schedule prepare her for the flight and to be sure she was in good shape was completed ahead of schedule, see this June 24th news release from Coulson.  Once the museum has the Hawaii Mars up and running at the end of September 2024 visitors will be able to see her up close in person. I understand that the Province of British Columbia is providing a $250,000 grant to the museum to protect and preserve the Hawaii Mars. For more information see this article from CBC Canada (with video). She departed Port Alberni on August 12th for the flight to Victoria, British Columbia near where the museum is located. Unfortunately I am not able to embed the video that I found on Coulson Facebook Page, but I can link to the video reel on Coulson's Facebook Page

As she neared the museum in Victoria, she was accompanied by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.

Hawaii Mars and all that flew you and maintain you to help fight wildfires, thank-you for your service. Hawaii Mars, I miss you and am very happy that you have a home at the British Columbia Aviation Museum.

Historical Air Tankers: Martin Mars

The Martin Mars will always be a special lady, she did a lot of good work over many years flying in support of wildland firefighters on the ground. I first met the Martin Mars, so to speak, fairly early on in my interest in aerial wildland firefighting through a friend of mine who introduced me to her through our e-mail correspondence. I first wrote about her in 2009, see for example this post from May 2009 (a couple of the links are dead, that happens). I believe, that I first saw her fly a fire through a live stream of aerial operations over the Station Fire in California (2009). She was a sight to behold and I was mesmerized watching her on live stream. 

On some Fridays I like to have what I call Friday Fun where I post an aviation video(s) I enjoy. For today's Friday Fun I am sharing a couple of videos of the Martin Mars.

Direct link to video from Airailimages on Youtube

Direct link to video on Youtube from Niceprguy2

Tanker history: Martin Mars dropping on the 2009 Station Fire

In the late summer of 2009, the Station Fire burned 160,577 acres, two firefighters died and 89 residences were destroyed. I have some articles tagged Station Fire here, and Wikipedia has a summary of the Station Fire here. The fire burned some television antennas and equipment on the top of Mt. Wilson. I spent quite a few hours watching live stream from Los Angeles media of the air operations over Mt. Wilson. I spent one night being afraid that the Mt. Wilson observatory might be destroyed or severely damaged, that did not happen. One of the now historic air tankers that dropped on Mt. Wilson was the Martin Mars. The Martin Mars is, in all likely hood retired from firefighting operations. I spent several minutes watching the live stream of her drop on Mt. Wilson, elegance in action. A very special tanker.

The video below may or may not be the same live stream that I saw almost ten years ago, but that does not matter. Enjoy this video, a little over six minutes of the Martin Mars preparing to drop and then dropping on Mt. Wilson during the Station Fire in late August 2009.


Direct link to video

Inside the Martin Mars

Continuing with sharing/embedding videos of Air Tankers during this holiday week, here is a video tour shot in September 2015 of the Martin "Hawaii" Mars while she was moored on Sprout Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.


Direct link to video

Inside Coulson's "Hawaii" Martin Mars

I have been busy the last couple of days with some personal business and some computer maintenance. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to share this video that I recently found of a walking tour through Coulson's "Hawaii" Martin Mars. The video, shot be VMC Aviation Videos was shot at Sprout Lake in Vancover British Columbia on September 10, 2015. Enjoy!

Direct link to video from VMC Aviation Videos

Martin Mars has one month contract for B.C.

You may recall that I wrote about Coulson's Martin Mars on July 8th (with a video of her). I was very happy to read in a couple of British Columbia media outlets that Coulson's Martin "Hawaii" Mars has a one month contract. The announcement was made by the British Columbia Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources on Wednesday afternoon, July 8. It will take a couple of days to get her ready, with the hope that she will be ready to fly fires this coming weekend. You might want to see this article from the Alberni Valley Times and another article from the Vancover Sun. The Martin Mars can drop 7,200 gallons or 27,276 litres of water and foam.

Once she is ready to fly fires, she will be a big help in helping wildland firefighters on the ground fight wildfires that are burning in British Columbia, one of which is buring on Dog Mountain on Sproat Lake where the Hawaii Mars is based. Coulson's other Martin Mars, the Phillipine Mars is not in condition to fly fires.

For more information on the wildfires burning in British Columbia:

• British Columbia Wildfire Service has a Current Wildfire Situation Page wildfire information is updated once a day at midnight and may not reflect current activity.
• Vancover Sun, B.C. Premier tours wildfires by air (with video of tankers)
• Photos from Vancover Sun: Vancouver, B.C. up in smoke
• Alberni Valley Times on the Dog Mountain Fire

Coulson Martin Mars ready to fly but waiting to be activated by British Columbia

I have heard about the active wildfire season in British Columbia and other areas of western Canada. Like some of you, I have heard various talk on the internet about the possibility that Coulson's Martin Mars might be flying some of these fires, especially a fire that is burning on Dog Mountain (Dog Mountain Fire) near her home base on Sproat Lake.

I was wondering exactly what was going on when I checked Bill Gabberts Fire Aviation this morning to find that he posted a July 6th article about the British Columbia government inquiring about the Martin Mars. Bill wrote on July 6:

Britt Coulson told us Monday evening that their company already has a Call When Needed contract for the Martin Mars with the British Columbia Wildfire Service but the aircraft has not been activated yet. The Coulson Group told the agency that if they activated it by the end of the day on Monday the Martin Mars could be serviceable and fighting fires on Thursday. As of 6:11 p.m. MT, the Coulsons had not heard from BCWS.

I read an article dated July 8, 2015 from the Alberni Valley Times about the current status of the Martin Mars. [On October 12th the July 8th article does not seem to be available online so I removed the link]. As I understand it, as of July 8th, the British Columbia government has not activated the Martin Mars. While the Martin Mars is in the water at her base on Sproat Lake, she can not fly the Dog Mountain Fire or any fires in British Columbia until the government activates her. She sits ready but unable to fly, waiting until when and if the B.C. Government activates her, much to the dismay of many in British Columbia and environs.

I had the privilege of watching the Martin Mars on livestream from one of the LA TV news outlets in 2009 flying and then dropping on Mt. Wilson during the Station Fire. I must have watched her for what felt like 15 or 20 minutes, mesmerized. Here is a shorted video of her flight, first as she prepares to drop and then the drop. Elegance in action. Long time regular readers of this blog know that I have a special affinity for this very special airplane.


direct link to video of Martin Mars drop on Mt. Wilson during 2009 Station Fire (CA)

Revised on October 12, 2015 to remove a dead link.

In honor of a special lady -- Martin Mars

I just got back from an eye check-up which means that my pupils are dilated and I am having hard time doing computer work, so I'm taking a few hours off from work. I came across a nice 8+ minute video the other day of the engine start up of the Martin Mars known as the Hawaii Mars. She is one special lady and did a lot of good work for many, many years fighting wildfires in support of firefighters on the ground. I love watching her, and I thought that you might enjoy watching her as well.



direct link to video

Martin Mars in action

direct link to video

I love the Martin Mars, and when I saw this video last week on Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation Blog I knew that I had to share it with you. You will see some a SEAT and some helos working the fire.

Reflections on a special flying boat, the Hawaii Mars (aka the Martin Mars)

Yesterday I saw an article from Canadian Skies reporting that this summer (2013) may be the last summer that Coulson's Martin Mars (known as the Hawaii Mars) may be on contract with the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS). That is, it seems that this may the last summer that the Hawaii Mars is on what is known as a direct-award contract with the BCFS. Unfortunately, the Canadian Skies article is no longer available online (revised on Oct. 12, 2015) I found another article, this one from the Times Colonist (dated May 10, 2013) reporting that 2013 is the last summer that the Hawaii Mars will be awarded a direct-award contract from the BCFS. Finally, I found reference to another report this one from the Alberni Valley times (5/10/2013) Coulson's Martin Mars webpage, but was unable to access the Alberni Valley Times article. 

I don't wish to engage in speculation about the future of the Hawaii Mars, nor am I exactly in the position to have knowledge of how the BCFS contracts for aircraft used in wildland firefighting operations. I love the Hawaii Mars and you holds a special place in my heart. I have never seen you in person, I have a couple of videos showing you working fires at home. And I had the opportunity to watch a live stream of you firebombing run over Mt. Wilson on the Station Fire. The Mt. Wilson Observatory is a historic place that is near and dear to me, and Hawaii Mars you were but one of the aerial players working in support of the firefighters on the ground on the Station Fire. Together, all of you helped to save that special place. And other special places that I don't know about.

Hawaii Mars and crew, I love you. I know that all of you at Coulson who are a part of your team love you and take care of you to keep you in flying shape. You worked well on the wildfires in Mexico a year or so, I saw you in action in Mexico on Mighty Planes on cable. You have done good work in British Columbia in past years. And of course there is your work in the U.S.

I don't exactly know what to say. As I said, I won't engage in speculation. I want what is best for you and your crew.

Enjoy these two videos of the Martin Mars known as the Hawaii Mars doing what she does best. Allow about ten minutes to watch both videos.

Martin Mars taking off from Lake Elsinore in Southern CA (Nov 2007)

direct link to video on youtube from LakeElsinoreCAM

Martin Mars making drop on Mt. Wilson during aerial firebombing operations during the Station Fire, late Aug 2009 (Video is from ABC 7 in Los Angeles CA)

direct link to video on youtube

Revised on October 12, 2015

Philippine Mars going to a new home

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.

Martin Mars vandalized

The Times Colonist reported yesterday that the Martin Mars was vandalized on Saturday night. There was damage to the tail fin that I believe has since been repaired. The crew is ok. The outcome could have been a lot worse. Go here to read the Times Colonist article about the vandalism to the Martin Mars. Go here to see coverage on the vandalism of the Martin Mars from wildfiretoday

I love the Martin Mars. Here is a youtube video showing coverage from ABC 7 in LA of the Martin Mars dropping on Mt. Wilson during the 2009 Station Fire. I saw this live, so to speak, as I was watching live feed from LA stations. Don't recall what station I was watching, but it was pretty impressive to see her make a live drop.

Hawaii Mars at Vancover Harbor

The Martin Mars a couple of years ago.

Updated Jan 2, 9:45 PM EST: thanks to two friends who pointed out the geographical error in today's title. The video is not at Shasta Lake, rather it was shot in Vancover Harbor a couple of years ago, possibly at a demonstration done at a fire expo a couple of years ago. I had also been looking at a video of the Martin Mars shot at Shasta Lake. Sorry folks and thanks again to my two friends.

Testing of Hawaii Mars (circa 1945)

This video from the United News Newsreels is posted on fedflix, more info may be found on this fed flix page. I am embedding this video because I was fascinated by the first feature in the newsreel showing what I think may be the first test flight of the Hawaii Mars circa 1945. Part 2 of the newsreel shows the 2nd Marines landing on and securing an atoll in the vicinity of Okinawa sometime late in WWII. Part 3 shows President Truman and other dignitaries arriving at Antwerp along with some scenes from the Potsdam Conference.

The newsreel says that the Hawaii Mars is the first of twenty of her type. It turned out that only four or Five were built, including the Hawaii Mars. Two remain, the Hawaii Mars and the Philippine Mars, see this page on the Coulson Flying Tankers website for more information about the two Mars aircraft.

I loved seeing the Hawaii Mars, albeit in black and white, in her military colors. Enjoy!

Some of the scenes of emaciated Japanese citizens and children might be a little disturbing to some.

Martin Mars working in Mexico

In other news, Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today is reporting on the Martin Mars working the fires in Mexico, see this article with a photo and a video. The Martin Mars works with a sikorsky helicopter and both have been very effective as they work in Mexico. Take a few moments to read Bill's article.

Martin Mars

I love watching the Martin Mars. The videographer was running early on to get in position, accounting for the heavy breathing early on. The footage shows the Hawaii Mars while it was based at Lake Elsinore near Hemet-Ryan last December.

Thanks to a friend who told me "The lake the MARS is dipping out of is actually Diamond Valley Resevoir, 3 miles south of Ryan AAB and 18 miles east of Lake Elisnor. This was during the final days of the contract, they were doing foam test drops up near Poppet Flats, about 13 miles northeast of Ryan AAB.

Enjoy

Martin Mars in action

I've been busy this week with a couple of projects and other life events. So, I have dug through my stored videos from youtube and found this video from the 2009 Station Fire of the Martin Mars loading water and than making a drop on Mt. Wilson Observatory. I had the privilege of watching some footage of the Martin Mars last summer from a live stream out of one of the LA television stations. She is beautiful airplane, one of only two of a kind. I could watch her for hours. Enjoy!

More on Martin Mars

Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has recently made this post of two videos of the Hawaii Mars in action. I am embedding one video here, with thanks to Bill for sharing this on his site. According to Bill, this video is shot from cameras on the lead helicopter and from cameras on board the aircraft. I like this video for its unique perspective as I am especially intrigued by footage taken from inside the cockpit of a tanker or a helo. Bill also provides some information about the history of the Martin Mars, those of you with an interest in aviation history will want to check this out. You will also want to check out Bill's post to see the second video that I did not embed here, a longer video (almost six minutes) of Monday's drop on Mt. Wilson where they talk a little about the aircraft itself and its capabilities.

For those of you who keep track of these things, this post updates and replaces one that I made late last night and have since deleted.

September 8, 2014: dead links removed.

Martin Mars makes drop on Mt. Wilson

direct link to video

After eating dinner I decided to come in and watch some more live video streams out of southern California. I lucked out and saw the Martin "Hawaii" Mars circling over Mt. Wilson. What a magnificent airplane, literally two of a kind. After about five to ten minutes of watching the video, with some nice closeups of the Martin Mars, it came in for its dropping, dropping water (with foam) near the transmission towers.

Remember the capacity of the Martin Mars is 7,200 gallons and it has a 600 gallon foam tank. For more information on the Martin Mars, go here.

In the meantime I am watching streams of helitankers working the fires, loading and making drops.

update:8:10PM EDT
I would like to thank Huufs for pointing me to myfoxla video that I just embedded as well as the video from abc on youtube. Thank-you Huufs

updated on Sept 6, 2013
It seems that the myfoxla video may no longer be available, so I am, hopefully, including a video from youtube of the Martin Mars making a drop on Mt. Wilson