Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
1/ Time for a #MartinMars picture thread!! Went for a nice morning paddle on Sproat Lake where Hawaii Mars (II) and Phillipine Mars have been based since being converted to flying tankers/water bombers in the 1960s. Hawaii, in red, will be flown to its forever home just a couple 100km away at the BC Aviation Museum near #YYJ in Victoria, BC. It has fought fires all over North America, but mainly on Vancouver Island.
#Oldplanes #HawaiiMars #SproatLake #WWII #BCWildfire
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
2/ These planes are extremely impressive both from a distance and up close. The scale of everything on them is bigger than normal. We got there just as the work crew was starting their day. They have a floating dock that they pull out to work on the engines while it is moored. Today they were working on Engine 1 I believe. #MartinMars #YYJ #Oldplanes #HawaiiMars #SproatLake #WWII #BCWildfire
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
3/ The planes have become icons and are extremely beloved in #PortAlberni. They were excellent fire fighters. They could extinguish or damp down a fire enough for ground crews to tackle with just one drop. Their sound is unmistakable. People know it well and will run outside of their home or workplace to see it fly by as soon as they hear the rumble. The pilots often flew directly over town as a “hello” or “goodbye”. #YYJ #Oldplanes #HawaiiMars #SproatLake #WWII #BCWildfire
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸
4/ Still on shore at the bomber base is Philippine Mars. Whereas the Hawaii Mars’ last work as a water bomber was in 2015, Philippine has not flown since 2007. Together, the two planes could bring an immense one-two punch. After it retired in 2012, Philippine was repainted in its original Navy blue. It is now being made airworthy again to fly to the USA and retire in Arizona. I can hardly wait for it to be in the water again! #PortAlberni #YYJ #Oldplanes #HawaiiMars #SproatLake #WWII #BCWildfire
Jul 16, 2024 at 4:51pmWeb
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024

5/ Fun facts:
Philippine and Hawaii were nicknamed “white tail” and “red tail” as they had their tails painted differently to make it easier to tell them apart.

Philippine, delivered in 1946 is actually the older of the two planes. It was the second production plane after the Hawaii Mars (I) was lost in a fire. Hawaii Mars II was the last plane built. Also delivered in 1946. They were both converted to water bombers in 1959 and 1960.

https://www.alamy.com/martin-jrm-3-mars-flying-boat-c-flyk-at-sproat-lake-in-british-columbia-canada-in-1989-image575273994.html

#PortAlberni #YYJ #Oldplanes #HawaiiMars #SproatLake #WWII #BCWildfire

Martin JRM-3 Mars Flying Boat C-FLYK at Sproat Lake in British Columbia, Canada, in 1989 Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: Martin JRM-3 Mars Flying Boat C-FLYK at Sproat Lake in British Columbia, Canada, in 1989. - 2TBWYRP from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
6/END
Lake pictures. The lake was extremely calm and warm to the touch. Extremely inviting for a swim! #PortAlberni #YYJ #Oldplanes #HawaiiMars #SproatLake #WWII #BCWildfire
Show threadMark Connolly moved to @[email protected]Jul 16, 2024
@chris Lovely thread. Being in Southwestern Ontario I’ve seen Hamilton’s Avro Lancaster fly a few times, but the Mars must be something else even beyond that.
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
@uxmark might be the same engines so it might sound the same! I would love to see that plane too!
Show threadMark Connolly moved to @[email protected]Jul 16, 2024

@chris No, the Lanc has Merlins. And the Mars has whatever those huge radials are 😀

But yeah, Lanc is an awesome sight, and one of only two in the world that are airworthy. It’s a distinctive sound when it flies overhead.

Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
@uxmark ah! I have never heard a Merlin!the Mars are Wright R-3500 18 cylinder 2500hp beasts!
Show threadMark Connolly moved to @[email protected]Jul 16, 2024
@chris Very cool. Merlins also power Spitfires, Hurricanes, and later Mustangs. So if you’ve seen any of those fly you’ll have heard them. 😀
Show threadChris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸Jul 16, 2024
@uxmark https://mastodon.social/@persagen/112798715264459932
Show threadChristopher GriffithsJul 17, 2024
@chris Cool thread. Such amazing aircraft.