Coulson Aviation Retired the Phillippine Mars

 

Direct link to video from 12NewsAz on YouTube

The JRM Mars aircraft or flying boats were built in the early 1940s with delivery of the First Martin Mars in 1945. I believe that only seven were built. 

In 2007 Coulson Aviation bought two JRM-1 Mars aircraft, The Hawaii Mars iI and the Philippine Mars. These aircraft or flying boats were used for aerial wildland firefighting. The Hawaii Mars II saw its last stint fighting wildfires in 2015, when there were no buyers the Hawaii Mars II was retired to the British Columbia Aviation Museum a few months ago. The Philippine Mars required some maintenance overhauls before it could be retired to the Pima Air and Space Museum. The Aviationist has a nice article on the Philippine Mars and the other Martin Mars flying boats, go here to read this article (I hope this link works for you, my apologies if it does not.)

Direct link to video from Tobyn Burton Aviation Videos on YouTube

Direct link to video from AirRailImages on YouTube

As you can see from the videos that I have embedded above, the Philippine Mars took off from Sprout Lake in British Columbus on February 9th.

The legendary Philippine Mars is on her way to Arizona, and thanks to our partnership with SKYTRAC, you can track her journey in real time!  #coulsonaviation #philippinemartinmars 

📍 Track her progress here: https://t.co/Giv1mJwYdm pic.twitter.com/x65yHOpZeY

— Coulson Aviation (@CoulsonAviation) February 9, 2025

She arrived at Lake Pleasant Arizona on February 11th.

The Philippine Mars has arrived in Arizona! ✈️ After an incredible journey from Sproat Lake, she’s now en route to her forever home at the Pima Air & Space Museum. A historic chapter closes, but her legacy lives on. #philippinemars #aviationhistory #coulsonaviation pic.twitter.com/oVJs1iQ2Xn

— Coulson Aviation (@CoulsonAviation) February 12, 2025

The Philippine Mars was disassembled for transport to the Pima Air and Space Museum where it will be assembled before going on display at the museum go here for more information.

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.

   

Friday Fun: EAA AirVenture Highlights from AirShowStuffVideos

 I knew that EAA AirVenture is still going on this week in Oshkosh. I wanted some aviation related videos to share with you today. Knowing that AirshowStuffVideos does a great job with their videos of air shows and related aviation interests, I went to YouTube and quickly found a couple of videos. The one that I am sharing today is a video of highlights from EAA AirVenture on Thursday, July 25th shot by AirshowStuffVideos. I liked this video because I got to see many older and historic aircraft in addition to more recent aircraft. I also got to see shots of some of the many aircraft on the ground at EAA AirVenture. For those that are interested, AirshowStuffVideos had some nice highlights from Wednesday, July 24th with more recent aircraft including the Blue Angels and many others I recognized.

Here is the video from AirshowStuffVideos of 2024 EAA AirVenture Thursday Highlights.

Direct link to video from AirshowStuffVideos on YouTube 

Friday Fun: TBM Avenger and Other Historic Aircraft Saluting Veterans

 For this week's Friday Fun I am sharing a nineteen minute video that I will embed below. The video is from Airshow Stuff Videos of a 2024 Airshow of a TMB Avenger gathering and salute to Veterans around Memorial Day 2024. I am not sure where this airshow was. TBM Avengers were used in aerial firefighting, my tagged articles on the Avenger may be found here (most recent first). See for example my July 26th 2010 introduction to a series on the TBM Avenger, please note that some of the links in this series are expired but with the help of a friend I hope that the introduction provides a brief overview of the Avenger. The World War Aviation Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado has a nice page with history and specifications of the TBM Avenger that may be found on this page. 

You will see other historic aircraft in this video.

Enjoy, the video is just over nineteen minutes

Direct link to video from AirShowStuffVideos on YouTube

Friday Fun: P-51 Mustang (dual seat) flying over NJ shore

 In looking for a fun aviation to share with you for Friday Fun I did a search on YouTube on flying over the NJ shore and saw this 2016 video from a passenger on a dual seat P-51 Mustang "Betty Jane" from the Collings Foundation. I was intrigued by this 14 minute video and wanted to share this with you. You may want to read about the P-51 Mustang, "Betty Jane" on this page from the Collings Foundation. You will see the pilot introducing the P-51 to his passenger before taking off on their flight over the New Jersey shore. The Collings Foundations takes their historic planes on tours around the United States, and I have visited them in New Jersey a couple of times over the last several years I was privileged to see Betty Jane up close and in person.

Direct link to video by  Duke JJZ on YouTube

Friday Fun: About the 1946 J-3 Cub

 I was looking around for a fun aviation video to share with you on Friday Fun. I have made a note of the blancolirio YouTube channel where he posts many different aviation videos. Some are about crash investigations but he also posts other aviations videos about different airplanes, interviews with pilots, and aerial firefighting.

Today I am sharing a video he uploaded about three months ago around November 2023 called "Meet the Cub! 1946 J-3". I enjoyed watching this 15-minute video and I hope you do as well. He demonstrates are the power-off stall, three point landing, and gives a walk around of the Cub that he had recently purchased at the time he made this video.

Friday Fun: An Introduction to the 1946 J-3C Cub

Courtesy of Blancoliro's Youtube Channel, here is an eleven minute video about the 1946 J-3C Cub. Enjoy.

Friday Fun: Bell 47 helicopter ride along

 I am overdue for another Friday Fun post. As I have been sharing videos about helicopters recently I wanted to find a fun and family friendly video showcasing a helicopter. I did some poking around this morning and had a hard time finding something suitable for Friday Fun when I came across a video of ride in a Bell 47 helicopter. According to The Bell 47 Light Helicopter Project, USA site, there were 16 variants of the Bell 47 with the Bell47B being a military version:

Bell 47 is a single-engine light helicopter designed by Arthur M Young and manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron in the US. It can be used for agriculture spraying and smoke jumping. It took its maiden flight in December 1945. It became the first helicopter to be certified for commercial use in March 1946. The helicopter entered into service in the same year.

The helicopter recorded an altitude of 18,500ft in May 1949. It was used as the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s first aircraft in 1957 for firefighting support. About 5,600 of these helicopters are currently in service worldwide. Bell 47 type certificates were migrated to Scott helicopters in 2010.

The Bell 47 has 16 variants. ...

The Bell 47B is a military version and is powered by the Franklin O-335-1 piston engine. (obtained from The Bell 47 Light Helicopter Project, USA site on Nov 4, 2022.)

I believe that the Bell 47 was used in the Korean War and may have been featured on M*A*S*H.

Direct link to video from letsflyinter on YouTube

Friday Fun: Stearman biplanes performing flybys

On this edition of Friday Fun, I offer a video from AirshowStuffVideos of two WWII-era Stearman Biplanes performing at the 2021 Wings fo the North AirExpo. Allow less than seven minutes to watch the video.

Direct link to video from AirshowStuffVideos on YouTube

Friday Fun: A look at the Beech 18

 I became acquainted recently with the Beech 18 aircraft through reading I'll Take the 18: The Story of Beech 18 Freight Flying by Scott H. Gloodt. I had a great time reading about flying freight in the Beech 18 and learned about the Beech 18 and her capabilities. It is available from many e-book vendors. Here is a video that Gloodt did about the book.

Direct link to video on Youtube from Lifted Up Productions

 Here is another video about flying the Beech 18 In the video below you will experience flying in a Beech 18.

Direct link to video on Youtube from Section Eleven Outdoors

Friday Fun: Northern Illinois Airshow: Corsair F4U and P51 Mustang

Time for some Friday Fun. I found a nice video featuring a P-51 Mustang and a F4U Corsair from AirshowStuff Videos taken at the Northern Illinois 2021 Airshow held in Waukegan, IL. The video is a little over 7 minutes long. Enjoy!

Direct link to video on YouTube from AirshowStuff

Friday Fun: from 2018 Planes of Fame Airshow (Chino CA)

Been awhile since I posted a fun video to celebrate Friday. Enjoy this thirteen minute video from the 2018 Planes of Fame Airshow, Pacific Theatre, in Chino California.

Direct link to video

Reflections on the A-26 service as an airtanker in Canada

The Douglas A-26 Invader has been retired from active service as an air tanker for many years now. A few years ago I got interested in the Douglas A-26 Invader's service as an air tanker in Canada and wrote a 13-part series, you might want to check out some photos here and here. In the final post in that series, I offered my reflections on the A-26's service as an air tanker in Canada, here is an excerpt:

You served long and well flying fires in Canada, in some cases serving as a tanker in the U.S, and before that your military service. You were and are loved by all those who came in contact with you during your years of service as an air tanker in Canada. … 

Thank-you for you for your long service in Canada. I wish that I had known you then, but I've been privileged to know you through a couple of pilots who flew you, through the videos that I have seen and the material that I read on the internet. Perhaps one day I'll get to meet one of your kind in a museum. Or even better, to see one of your kind flying.  

I love you too. Someday we will both be flying in favorable tail winds and we can fly together. 

Over five years have passed since I wrote that series. I still love the A-26, and as time goes by I wonder if I will ever get to see her fly. But that doesn't matter, because I can close my eyes and see her fly in my meditations.

I close by sharing a video of an A-26 air tanker flying a wildfire, including some shots from inside the cockpit.


Direct link to video

Reflections on Aero Union's P-3 Orion Air Tanker

When I started to write about aerial wildland firefighting over 10 years ago, I quickly learned about Aero Union's P-3 orion air tanker. I never had the opportunity to know one of her pilots nor did I ever meet her in person. But that does not matter because I got to know her through her reputation and through a myriad of videos of air tanker operations over wildfires. With tanks carrying up to 3,000 gallons of retardant, she was a valuable resource. I loved watching videos of her dropping on fires. Even better was watching her work wildfires in the western United States on live stream.

Those days are gone. The U.S Forest Service cancelled its contracts for Aero Union's P-3's in the summer of 2011. Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation writes about the efforts to bring the P-3 back to wildland firefighting configuration here.

I want to honor the work of Aero Union's P-3 tankers. I can think of no better way to do so then by sharing a couple of my favorite videos. The first one has no sound For the record, there was a version with sound and a snappy musical track, but I can no longer find it online. Even without sound you will get to see the P-3  working wildfires. 

Direct link to video on Youtube

The second video was done by Scorched Sky Productions in 2011 as a tribute to Aero Union's P-3 tanker after Aero Union lost it's USFS contract.

Direct link to video by Scorched Sky Productions

Curtiss P-36 Hawk in memory of my Grandpa

Grandpa this article is for you.

My Grandpa died forty years ago. If I have not said this before, I believe that I got the aviation bug from Grandpa. He was aeronautical engineer in the late 20s into the early 50s when he switched careers to teach ninth grade mathematics

He did not talk a lot about his career as an aeronautical engineer, and I knew not to push. One of the last conversations we had was about aviation. I don't quite recall what we talked about, but we had a great time. And I remember that he lit up. So, that is how I want to remember my Grandpa.

I'd like to think that he is smiling at me from the great beyond and understands my love of aviation and this blog.

I do happen to have a copy of his college alumni records where he listed his places of employment. I had been meaning to poke around on the internet to see where he was working prior to World War II when he was working for Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank CA. He worked for Curtiss-Wright in Buffalo New York from 1932 to 1936. So, I went to the Curtiss-Wright Website to see if I could find out what they were doing during the period when Grandpa was working there. Curtiss-Wright has a history page. Clicking on the link for 1929 to 1938 revealed that they worked on the Curtiss P-36 Hawk as well as designing and building the 9-cylinder Wright engines for the Boeing B-17. Now I have absolutely no idea what he did at Curtiss-Wright. When I wrote my about the B-17, I had not considered where my Grandpa was working for I would have at least mentioned Grandpa in an appropriate article. Oh well.

The Curtiss P-36 Hawk was a single-seat monoplane fighter that was operated prior to and during World War II. She had one Wright R-1820-G205A Cyclone piston radial engine. She was capable of a maximum speed of 322 mph or 280 knots. See this Military Factory article for more information about the specifications. I found a fourteen minute historical video on Youtube about the production of the Curtiss P-36, those of you who are interested may go here to watch this video. At 10:44 you may watch them put the engine in.

Here are two short videos you might enjoy. The first video is two minutes of footage from a 1939 newsreel highlighting Buffalos role in aircraft production


Direct link to video on Youtube

The second video is footage of a restored Curtiss P-36 on her inaugural flight prior to the 2015 Legends Airshow.


Direct link to video on Youtube

Grumman S-2A airtanker footage (1973) "Red Shower"

This may be another oldie but goodie. Even so, it bears repeating for the history. The video is from 1973, a California Department of Forestry presentation about the Grumman S-2A airtanker. You will see some other historic tankers. Allow just under 17 minutes to watch the entire video.


Direct link to video uploaded by AAFAirtankerVideos

Good bye Lockheed P2-V Neptunes

On Saturday, September 30th, Neptune Aviation had a farewell party for the four remaining P2-V Neptune Tankers, all are being retired this season. As I understand it, one P2-V may still be on contract and will be retired at the end of her contract.

Thank-you all the P2-Vs and her crews -- pilots, co-pilots, ground support, etc. who have flown wildfires over the years.

Some of you did not make it to retirement, tankers 7, 4, 99, 9, 42, 11, and two tanker number 8's were lost in the line of duty. For a complete list of fatalities in Lockheed P2V tankers see Bill Gabbert's June 7, 2012 article on Wildfire Today, Bill has listed a 1992 crash (ferry flight) with no tanker number. You and your crews are flying in favorable tail winds. May you rest in peace, and condolences to your friends, families and co-workers.

You have flown countless numbers of wildfires, saved many lives, and saved many residences and businesses. You did all this in support of the crews on the ground. Your service will not be forgotten. It will be strange to not see you flying after the end of the season. I will miss you!

Neptune Aviation continues to fly BAe-146 jet tankers.

The Missoulian had a nice report (with a photo gallery) on the farewell party (which includes the video that I am embedding below) which may be found here.

Edited on October 4th to add: I only just now went to Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation site and found that Bill posted a nice article (with a link to a video) about Neptune Aviation's retirement of their P2V air tankers


Direct link to video from Missoulian

Here is a nice report on Neptune's farewell party for the P2-V's from KPAX


Direct link to video from KPAX

Another look back at airtankers at Santa Barbara in 1987

I have shared some of Brian Lockett's (of http://www.Air-and-Space.com) earlier. On Jan 30, 2013 I shared the first of a five part video he did of airtanker operations at Santa Barbara (CA) on October 3, 1987. Then on July 31, 2015 I shared two more of Brian's videos, one is part 5 of his October 4th series of videos of tanker operations at Santa Barbara and the second was shot on October 5th. 

Today I am sharing part 2 of Brian Lockett's five-part series of videos of air tanker operations at Santa Barbara. I enjoy Brian's videos not only because he labels many of the tankers you will be seeing in the video, but also because he shows some commercial airliners. And at times, I hear some radio chatter in the background.

Thanks to Brian Lockett for identifying the tankers in his videos. Including among the airtankers that you will see in this video are:

• Fairchild 123 Provider T-123
• Douglas C-54D Skymaster T-13
• Lockheed P2V T-12 (Neptune Aviation)
• Lockheed P2V T-11 (Neptune Aviation)
• Lockheed P2V-7 T-7 (Aero Union)
• PB4Y2 Privateer T-124
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster T-16

Direct Link to video from Brian Lockett on Youtube

As I watched the video, I found myself thinking of how wonderful it is to see some historic airtankers in action. At the same time on a somewhat sadder note I found myself reflecting on the danger involved in flying airtankers. At least one of the airtankers that you will see in the video -- Neptune Aviation's Lockheed P2-V Tanker 11 was destroyed in a crash (June 3, 2012). The flying that airtanker and helicopter pilots do when flying wildfires is risky, and they do so to support the wildland firefighters on the ground. Many pilots and crew have died flying fires, your loss is not forgotten.

Memorial Day 2016

I want to pause on this Memorial Day to remember all who have served in the military. Thank-you for your service. I will never forget.

I'd like to share with you this 1944 documentary (color) about the Memphis Belle. She was just one of the many B-17 Flying Fortresses who served in World War II. And there were many other aircrews flying various bombers, fighters, etc. Some came home and some did not. And of course, the troops on the ground. And of course, we had air crews in World War 1, Korea, Vietnam, and in currently in the Middle East. I won't forget.


Direct link to video on Youtube (uploaded by The Best Film Archives)

DC-7: present and 61 years ago

On a snowy March day in New Jersey I want to pause a bit and share two videos about the DC-7.

I came across the one below today and don't quite remember if I have seen this one before. If I have shared this one before, well enjoy the re-run. You will see DC-7 Tanker-66 on a take off roll in 2012 before Butler was acquired by Erickson Aero.


direct link to video

While I was looking at this video on youtube earlier today, I found this video from 1954 starring one of American Airlines DC-7 on a NY to Los Angeles flight. Allow about 29 minutes to watch this video. Thanks to Classic Airliners and Pop Culture for finding and sharing this video.


direct link to video