Hawaii Mars Does 6 Water Bomber Hits on Forest Fire

[Blackbirdfan]

Yes a high visibility paint job would be ideal, but in the event they end up putting it back into service short term, it would be an expensive thing to do. A quote from a guy by the name of Brian Selfridge on the Mars FB page. " I sent a question to the flight crew yesterday about the other mars. the question was, If needed could the other Mars be put back into the water and be used on a fire? does she still have her water tanks and scoops in her. the reply I got was this. Yes she still has her tanks and scoops in her, But she has not been maintained for a long time so she can not be used this year, I hope this helps with people wanting to see her back in action,"

There is a slim possibility that Philippine Mars might fight a few more fires with this going on. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadia ... -1.3065537

Its a mess, but the people of Port Alberni BC absolutely love both of the Mars and want them both to stay there. The public support of them is mindblowing.

Will

[Timelapse]

Hawaii Mars Air Strike on Forest Fire from 4 Camera Angles in one video, Recorded on July 28,2015.
Also a view from inside the Hawaii Mars, My shots are the Bird Dog Jet Roaring pass and the last clips. Please enjoy and leave a comment, Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X59F6ZXiKMw

[JOMiller]

Is Hawaii MARS still in use for firefighting? Could Philippine MARS
be returned to tanker use? Does she still have her water tanks and
other equipment in place. Has anyone heard anything further on
the deal with NNAM?

THX,
Owen

[Blackbirdfan]

Is Hawaii MARS still in use for firefighting? Could Philippine MARS
be returned to tanker use? Does she still have her water tanks and
other equipment in place. Has anyone heard anything further on
the deal with NNAM?

THX,
Owen

Apparently Hawaii Mars is in the air as I type this. Yes, its on call and ready to go. Philippine Mars is still a tanker as well. Apparently it needs new seals on the doors for the tanks, but aside from that, its more or less ready to go as well. Philippine doesn't have the FLIR setup that Hawaii has, but most tankers new or old lack that.

Will

[Timelapse]

Is Hawaii MARS still in use for firefighting? Could Philippine MARS
be returned to tanker use? Does she still have her water tanks and
other equipment in place. Has anyone heard anything further on
the deal with NNAM?

THX,
Owen

Apparently Hawaii Mars is in the air as I type this. Yes, its on call and ready to go. Philippine Mars is still a tanker as well. Apparently it needs new seals on the doors for the tanks, but aside from that, its more or less ready to go as well. Philippine doesn't have the FLIR setup that Hawaii has, but most tankers new or old lack that.

Will

Here is a Air Strike I videoed on July 28 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X59F6ZXiKMw

[Timelapse]

Hey, the deal with Pensacola isn't a done deal, the gov't in Canada wants it to stay in Canada.

Like I wrote, I'd heard it as a rumor. To be honest, I didn't think there was nearly that much truth to it and I was surprised to see that video of the paint job!

no point in painting it back to red and white if they are still looking to do a deal long term. Why not? Just paint over the stars and leave it all blue.

Probably a bad paint job for fire bombing, you would want something very high-vis for that.

Here is what the Philippine Mars looks like on the water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPe_oeN7dP8

[Scooby]

Is Hawaii MARS still in use for firefighting? Could Philippine MARS
be returned to tanker use? Does she still have her water tanks and
other equipment in place. Has anyone heard anything further on
the deal with NNAM?
THX,
Owen

Apparently Hawaii Mars is in the air as I type this. Yes, its on call and ready to go. Philippine Mars is still a tanker as well. Apparently it needs new seals on the doors for the tanks, but aside from that, its more or less ready to go as well. Philippine doesn't have the FLIR setup that Hawaii has, but most tankers new or old lack that.

Will

I thought they were both retired now, with the Philippine Mars being donated to Pensacola soon. Coulson now has Herc tankers, recently they flew their newest tanker out of Edmonton, where I am based.

More info here on the Mars:

http://fireaviation.com/tag/coulson/

[Blackbirdfan]

Philippine Mars is retired, but could be put back in action as it still has the tanks. Hawaii Mars might stay in use if they get a contract for it. A C-130 carries about half what Hawaii Mars carries, and in BC, likely has a long ferry flight to and from a reload area. There are far more large lakes for Hawaii Mars to operate out of, likely closer to a fire. Sure a C-130 has a higher cruise speed, but if it has to spend an hour in ferry time to and from a fire, and Mars needs 10 minutes, clearly its going to outpace a C-130 pretty easily (and everything else, including a DC-10)

Will