Martin Mars Olympic Water Drop

[davem]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYHntcqx ... _embedded#

VANCOUVER - British Columbia’s forests are being celebrated on Tuesday at the Olympics with water bomber demonstrations at Coal Harbour and a gift to the province of an ocean-going cedar canoe.

The Martin Mars flying boat is scheduled to fly over the city at 1 p.m., dropping its load of water over Coal Harbour.

The B.C. Ministry of Forests says the best viewing area will be Harbour Green Park, at the foot of Bute Street downtown.

The 66-year-old behemoth was originally designed to cross the Pacific and bomb enemy targets during the Second World War. It never flew such missions, but instead was used as a troop transport.

The Mars was converted to firefighting duties in the 1960s, and has been a fixture of British Columbia wildfire fighting since then. The Mars is the world’s largest operational flying boat, with a wingspan of 61 metres.

Earlier in the day, members of the Nanwakolas First Nation are to arrive at Harbour Green in a carved, 11.3-metre cedar canoe, which they are presenting to the province at 10 a.m. in celebration of the historic Coast Land Use Plan. The plan protects one of the world’s greatest ecological gems, the Great Bear Rainforest.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... story.html

[Pat Carry]

Kool video!

[BLR]

The Mars is still at Gary Point in Steveston (Richmond) today. They're supposed to do another demo around 14:00hrs. For those in the Vancouver area, this is an excellent chance to see the Mars up close and get some photos.

Brian.

Sounds Exciting!

Some day I have GOT to see this airplane in flight

[TimAPNY]

cool video, I wish I could be there to see that. Maybe some day I'll get the change to see one fly.

Tim

[davem]

Some more videos posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEeNmSOEgQY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHAyqsC3D1c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoMsjNgQ7VA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1twr85laEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niYvPfA7kYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD9hwYmBzlM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrUaSmKpLI8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ0xwTVB4OM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUgavk_wHn8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1twr85laEA

Last edited by davem on Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[marine air]

Hopefully this will lead to some good marketing and more contracts. IT needs to keep flying!

[davem]

It is interesting as the Province shunned the Mars last year and did not give a contract for fire fighting.

Now they are promoting the Mars, which now features a Provincial Ministry of Forests Logo on the nose. Seems there may well have been a change in heart and perhaps the Mars will return to front line service in Canada.

[Owen Miller]

I'd kinda like to see that gorgeous girl in Pensacola.
Imagine her landing in Pensacola Bay, just as her
predecessors did in the '19s, 20s, 30s, etc.


OMG..........................

[RMAllnutt]

I'd kinda like to see that gorgeous girl in Pensacola.
Imagine her landing in Pensacola Bay, just as her
predecessors did in the '19s, 20s, 30s, etc.


OMG..........................

One day Owen, I hope... but not too soon. I still love the idea of them flying for a bit longer

Cheers,
Richard

[JDK]

Hopefully this will lead to some good marketing and more contracts. IT needs to keep flying!

'They' - The Mars team operate two Martin Mars.

[marine air]

TWO Martin Mars?!!! I feel a road trip coming on!!

[davem]

TWO Martin Mars?!!! I feel a road trip coming on!!

They have a visitors centre, gift shop and are pretty friendly folks. Naturally summer may not be a great time to visit as they are working. Check out the website:

http://www.martinmars.com/facilities.htm