THE MARTIN MARS FLIES AGAIN! Hawaii Mars Test Flight at Sproat Lake, B.C. (4K)
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- On Thursday, August 1st, Coulson Aviation made history with the first flight of a Martin Mars in over 8 years!
The Martin JRM Mars is a massive flying boat that was developed during World War 2 originally as a patrol aircraft and later a cargo transport for the U.S. Navy.
With a 200 foot wingspan - almost as wide as a 747-400's - seven of these very recognizable flying boats were built.
Following the end of their service with the Navy in the 1950s, the remaining four were purchased by a group of forestry companies in British Columbia. Those companies formed "Forest Industries Flying Tankers" and converted the planes into water bombers.
As a result, the Mars became the largest piston powered water bomber in the world, and could scoop up 7,200 gallons of water at a time.
In 2007, the last two airframes, "Philippine Mars" and "Hawaii Mars" were acquired by the Coulson Group, and the latter continued to fight fires throughout B.C. until 2015.
Those two airframes have since been parked at Coulson’s base on Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, with Hawaii Mars last flying in 2016.
In March 2024 however, it was announced that Hawaii Mars would be donated to the British Columbia Aviation Museum at Victoria Airport, and would make its final flight later this year.
Before that flight actually takes place though, there were expected to be a few high speed taxi runs, which you could actually book rides on, provided you had the funds. There were even plans for a few test flights later on.
Although details on the flights were sparse, well, a couple of us made the trip out to Sproat Lake and rented a boat to at least see the Mars moving under its own power... and boy did we get a lot more than we expected!
A huge thank you to Mike and Brenden for driving the boat, and I hope you enjoy this footage of the Martin Mars!
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: Coulson Aviation
Aircraft: Martin JRM-3 Mars
Livery: Coulson Flying Tankers
Engines: 4x Wright R-3350-24WA
Registration: C-FLYL
Route: Sproat Lake - Sproat Lake
Date filmed: August 2024
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Outro song - "Take Flight" by Nyhtian: • Nyhtian - Take Flight ...
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2024
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.
And another iconic aircraft goes out of service … atleast they still survive instead of meeting the scrappers. What a nice catch tho
Likely both will get to fly to their destination too. These birds have been very well taken care of over the years. Airframe is pretty low hour too. I am so glad I managed to see them do their work and also buzz the trees and houses at Sproat lake. Impressive aircraft.
Question is, where to land the one for Pima? In the Gulf of California and haul her across the Mexican border, or the Teddy Roosevelt Lake?
@@Brigadier9 I’m guessing they land it on a big body of water nearby or maybe around the California coast and then bring it in by road
I glitched youtube by pressing 2 videos at once on accident. It played the one i wanted with the title and comment section of this. You have no idea how confused i was when i read this when i thought i was watching a man petting a chicken making purring noises 😂😂😂
@@colestock9980 lol
That shot of it coming around the corner while taxiing on the lake is amazing
I have to agree and as well with the sound turned up.
even better than the HMS QEII entering Portsmouth
Wife had to make me screenshot it lol
The Martin Mars, was hired sometime around 2010 to fight fires in Lake Elsenore, CA area. The plane would be parked on Lake Elsenore when she wasn't fighting fires. It was here for a whole summer. That was a wonderful daily show!
Ya, you guys have some really awesome vids on you tube
They used it to douse the transmitters atop Mt. Wilson above Altadena, CA during the 2009 Station Fire that burned all across the San Gabriels. I remember watching this video footage live. I spent three days supporting evacuation operations with the LA County Sheriff's Dept. We'd work one 12-hour day at the patrol station then the next day out at the fire.
czcams.com/video/XKBfbomdHCM/video.htmlsi=NQ5yI44aeEwfjB9n
Many years ago my wife and I stopped at Sproat Lake for lunch. There was a Mars across the water, practicing for the upcoming fire season. They picked up a load of water and flew off with it.
And then, a few minutes later, they came in very low right over our heads and dropped it a few yards off the shore. They must have seen us down there and decided to give us a private show!
You rode on an Il96 and I thought you had hit a pinnacle on this channel. Martin Mars>>>>>> Hold my beer. Absolutely fantastic footage that should be documented for generations to come.
I grow up on Sproat Lake, will miss these birds when they are gone, I'll be watching Sunday when Hawaii Mar's leaves for the last time.
I saw one as a water bomber, many years ago. Thank you for this special viewing, it brought tears of joy to my eyes.
A memorable day indeed. The first time I saw one of the Mars aircraft was during my first flight to Honolulu, in A CPA DC-6B, where she was laying at a mooring at the Honolulu Airport painted in US Navy drab blue colours, mid 1950's.
I then witnesed the four Mars arriving at Pat Bay Airport, now Victoria International, CYYJ where they came ashore and were converted to water bombers by Fairey Aviation Canada. Sadly one crashed during fire fighting operations on Vancouver Islan and another was badly damaged during a freak windstorm, Hurricane Frieda at Pat Bay Airport and was subsequently broken up.. If memory serves me correctly she was "Caroline Mars".
So yesterday's arrival of "Hawaii Mars" was a well orcherstrated operation and the begining of a new caree at the BC Aviation Museum at CYYJ.
That glorious aircraft should be preserved for all eternity!! Thanks for the video!
It will now👍
Well, thinking that maybe Elon Musk with super deep pockets could build some duplicates for future fire fighting..they are expensive operating costs I’m sure.. Elon is already involved in avionics, just saying.
It should be working not in a museum. But our governments don't understand basic facts
Looks like they had to shut one down prior to landing. The prop is feathered on one of the engines.
Thank you for making this video. What a beast of an aircraft.
Could have been that or part of emergency preparation to land if an engine fails. Part of certification even for it’s final flight to the museum.
A bit earlier, with all four properly sync'ed, the digital camera made it look like all four were feathered. I had to look carefully at #4 to be sure it WAS feathered later.
I grew up in Port Alberni, spending my summers swimming in Sproat Lake. We used to see the Martin Mars in the lake and I often got to see it take off and once even got to see it take on water for a forest fire. Even as a teenager I knew it was something special.
FINALLY ALEX!
A plane just for you…
LEGROOM!🤭
Beautiful!
What can you even say? Every pilot or aviation enthusiast would love to have wrestled one of these beasts on plane and into the air. A true tribute to the engineers, designers, and pilots from two generations back. Those men stepped up when it was asked of them, and changed the world forever. I am humbled every time I watch something like this...
I am so happy the Mars planes are finally going to museums to be displayed alongside other classic aircraft instead of just languishing here on Sproat Lake. Im also sad too. The Hawaii and Philippine will be leaving my hometown forever never to return, but Im sure exited to see the Mars in action for one last time.
I can remember being a twenty-something year old, swimming in Sproat Lake, and seeing one of these giants close by. Hard to imagine how big these things are until you see them in the flesh.
Another memory I have is one Canada Day, one of the grocery store managers in Parksville knew a Coulson, and managed to get a Mars flyby at the Community Park. They unleashed water on the crowd, which just came down as a mist. Still have photos of that.
Having seen both flying picking up water and fighting fires first hand it is bitter sweet. But I am looking forward to the flight of Hawaii to Victoria on the this Sunday
It should be fighting fire. Trudeau doesn't care about putting money towards the plane to help B.C fires from destroying the province woods
Beautiful in the air and on the water.
I am so glad the it will be kept in BC forever as it's been in this Province for so many Years becoming an iconic aircraft for not only the aircraft, but B.C. as well. Thanks for the ASSUME footage! It looked like 1 Engine failed occurred towards end & landing was done with 3 Engines running..
Amen. And Philippine Mars likewise will be in the US, although I can’t recall how they plan on transporting it, probably via dismantling and reassembling, as in the last few years if I recall Philippine Mars was being used as a source of spare parts for Hawaii Mars. These two aircraft are a symbol of North American fellowship and our shared experience in aviation and firefighting. I am planning on visiting Canada next year and hope that it will be possible to see the Hawaii Mars at that time. God bless you @KensHobbies408 ! ❤
the shot at 3:47 is insane. the scale of this plane is crazy, I'm so jealous you got to see it fly
Awesome video!
Ironic how she is being pulled out of service, when the world needs her the most.
This aircraft is as useful to modern aerial firefighting as a musket is to modern warfare.
Awesome video, thanks. Dad was chief flight engineer back from 47 to 52. BTW the aircraft is a Martin JRM, this aircraft is Hawaii Mars 2 and the squadron was VR2 operated out of Alameda, CA.
If she had full fuel and even partial payload, she’d be 10x easier to taxi around. Those wingtip floats were designed to touch almost neutral at a normal-mtow taxi and takeoff. Farting around with no fuel and zero payload makes things REALLY difficult with flying boats. Conventional aircraft love it lol.
The BC Aviation Museum should keep firing up these brilliant engines every once in a while to kickstart some pacemakers in Sidney!😆
I've heard the engines are being removed after its flight and installed on the Philippine to get it down to Arizona as they don't have enough parts to make all 8 engines serviceable. Not sure which aircraft will end up keeping the "serviceable" engines at the end of the day.
Of the three videos I have seen from this flight…yours nailed it. Nice work.
Beautiful bird!! Capturing this iconic plane in this geographic place was perfect! Really enjoyed this one.
At 6:55 spoiler alert but you knew she wasn't going to keep that "taxi" going. The big girl wanted to fly! Such beauty!
The video title is now "THE MARTIN MARS FLIES AGAIN!"
What an absolute bit of AMAZING footage mate. It is so special to finally see Mars back in the air again.
Interesting to see the engine shut down and feathered for that landing there at the end.
Stunning doesn't even begin to describe how awesome this footage is.
Well done mate. Huge thumbs up from me
Interesting that the approach is on 3 engines
Typically, it's not. There was an oil pressure warning so they shut that engine down.
Thx, was going to ask what happened there.
@@MudHawg339 Thanks for the explanation. Good that the feathering pump did its job. Not what you want on a first test flight... From about 10:00 onwards, you can clearly see the left rudder needed to counter the asymmetry, even with the remaining three R-3350s at a modest power setting for the approach.
Awesome footage! I sat in the left seat of her sister back in 2008. Did see Hawaii Mars fly by also during that visit. I will never foget that.
This is incredible!! It's almost inexplicable that an aircraft that old and with that shape can fly, but sure enough, we're seeing it here! An amazing video and something well worth capturing!
My son was fishing from his kayak when he heard and felt a massive rumble. It was the Martin Mars water bomber behind him. What an experience that was for him.
Thats the best video I've ever seen of the Mars.
Would love to see a video from you about how the hailstorm last week has affected operations at YYC. Keep up the great work!
I was out on the lake yesterday, just watching some taxiing runs, and damn if it’s not a majestic sight to see. One of the Martin’s was fighting fires in my hometown as a kid, and being able to see it in person again was awesome, before she retires.
Alex, it was a pleasure to capture this moment in history with you that day. Awesome video!
Yesterday I was able to see the Hawaiian Martian Mars' final flight! This is a huge part of Aviation history! I'm in Campbell River!
When I was working in Gastown years ago our windows faced the harbour, and during some sort of firefighters conference they did a demonstration flight in Burrard Inlet, was really cool to see this beast in action!
Truck Loggers Convention
through the magic of framerate, it was awesome seeing them steer with the engines...great shots
amazing she starts to move with one engine-on tickover ! so beautiful .
What a beast of an aircraft.
Great film. What a beautiful sight and sound.👍
I miss these plans I saw them live fighting the Garnett fire in my home town of Penticton B.C. back in 1994 they were just magnificent monsters I loved there sound to here them flying was something I will never forget thanks for the video
These planes showed up in the Okanagan a few times to fight fires. I'll never forget my 3rd birthday party with those planes roaring overhead. we were right on their flightpath to draw water and it felt like they were passing 50 feet over our heads. Amazing plane. i understand its not economical but I'll always be sad they don't show up when things get sketchy.
Seeing the Mars water bombers flying is a huge thrill. Thank you for posting. I saw these in the air decades ago heading to a fire in the mountains. This though is up close and so very exciting.
I remember them on Shuswap lake fighting the fires around my home town of Salmon Arm BC, CAN. when I was a teen. They where awesome to watch in action.
Wow thank you for these impressive views.
That plane is a labor of love ..❤..It looks like it just came out of the factory...
That's a flying ship. Two decks!
Loved this video. Saw this puppy a few years ago myself. Amazing aircraft!
Thank you for sharing this with us. What a grand Lady she is. Thanks for saving the this iconic aircraft BC.
Nice work, Alex. Especially considering the circumstances. I’ve always been interested in this aircraft because my sisters and parents and I flew from Pearl Harbor to Alameda California in the Hawaii MARS in 1954. She was near her end as a Naval Air Transport Service aircraft at that point, so I consider myself fortunate.
great video. i feel a tinge of sadness, though. another chapter closing. at least its going to a museum.
Very awesome! Stellar video mate!
Cheers 🥂 to you and the beautiful plane and country of Canada 🇨🇦 😊
Beautiful shots! we'll miss it, If we live on the coast.!😪
Absolutely stunning footage! Well done.
For such a big lady, she flies with beauty and grace!
Thanks!
One of the coolost planes in the sky, jaw dropping to see it take of just like that.. amazing shots
I saw this aircraft in 2018 and I was very happy to see him fly! It is something very unique even for europeans that have canadair near by for wildfire aerial vehicule. Beautiful video.
The best one two punch in the fire fighting world the Hawian punch then the phillipean trailer I will miss them 💞
As a kid my mom and her boyfriend took me camping by sprout lake and the bomber water bombed the lakeside and part of the campsite. It was awesome. I was about 5 years old or so.
Thanks Alex for another video! Such an incredible sight to see the Martin Mars Flying!
Alex from YYC. Truly appreciate you bringing that piece of Canadian history to us. Thanks !!!!.
what a beautiful airplane ❤ It reminds of those good old vintage Posters from yeah the 50/60 's ❤️
Nicely done guys!
What a beauty..
stunning work. And Amazing aircraft. but you captured amazing video and its good to hear it landed safe and is now retired museum piece. But i still say.... if it has wings.. it should always be flying.
Fantastic job filming this....👌👌
Superb photography of this beautiful flying sculpture, so well done Alex👏
I hope I look as good when I'm pushing 80. The video really captured the beauty and power of the aircraft.
Great video. Thank you.
I noticed engine #4 was shut down, prior to landing.
It's always a sight to behold, watching this beautiful bird.
This was awesome thanks Alex.
It would have actually been nice to see the complete landing of the Martin Mars
Nothing compares in fighting fires.
I saw that fly at oshkosh in 2016, i was on the flightline when it dumped all the liquid, god was it cool. Shame its going to a museum
That was one of its last flights prior to this.
In the 2005 both Hawaii and Philippine Mars planes were working to put out a big fire at Burns Bog in Delta BC
Oh sproat lake is beautiful spot, for the planes or just a lake day in that summer heat, took out a houseboat on the lake such a great summer week
B.C. has a few fires. A plane like that could do a lot of good. Great video Alex.
BC government hasn't awarded Coulson any Fire fighting contracts in 10 years. Coulson has an entire fleet of modern fire fighting aircraft that are used extensively in Cali and Austrailia.
@@legohead6 I guess it's who pads the pockets the best.
@legohead6
Coulson is awarded heavy helicopter contracts in BC.
Coulson has no fixed wing contracts because none of their aircraft meet Transport Canada standards.
Maybe they should get their aircraft certified? Seems a pretty basic concept.
@@calvinnickel9995 That's not true. They've had a very small number of spot contracts awarded for a single aircraft at a specific fires or situation(maybe 2 or 3 in the last 9 years). Helicopter was simply the best suited or only available resource in these situations.
il be looking out for it!
fantastic video!
What an absolute unit
Looks like it's doing it's trip to Victoria Aug 11th at (landing at 6pm). Looking forward to it!
I remember water skiing by it in the 70 `S...
Great video!
Amazing
It would be real cool if they did a fly over of all the old Mac blo papermills alberni Campbell River powell river Nanaimo etc on the final flight
They are planning a "low and slow" flight down the east coast of the island with a Snowbird escort is what I've heard.
One of the most beautiful planes ever made, I wish someone would fund the Philippine Mars to fly from time to time like for example the B-29 Fifi
This was a different aviation video! Great work Alex!
I noticed one outboard engine was feathered. Planned? Surprise?
Another comment said it was due to an oil pressure warning
It's good that she's off to a museum. I'll be waiting for my fly-by here in the Comox Valley. Nostalgia and preservation of history are the right reasons to keep the old bird. Public outcry bought her a little more time almost a decade ago, but Hawaii Mars is just too expensive to maintain for what she's capable of, and the selection of lakes she can land on is limited to well... The big ones. This means longer distances and times between runs. She can only transport water without retardant, and she does it with less precision than the newer options.
I'll forever remember the massive red airplane flying overhead when I was a Port Alberni kid in the 80s.
Note that on a documentary when they were fighting fires in Mexico early 2000s?, they were putting additives in each load from within the plane. It was a formula based on lake water tests etc. Overall a successful mission.
So majestic, it's awe-inspiring.
Such a great catch, Alex. Fantastic video as always.
Remember seeing this fly over my area of BC doing forest fire water bombing in roughly 2015 right before it was retired. What a cool plane.
Great video Alex!Nice to see both these airframes will be preserved.Nice catch👍
This is insane!! Absolutely amazing footage Alex!!
Fabulous, thank you Alex!
fantastic shots!
I'm going to miss those planes I've seen them working for years of my whole life
Bravo
Well done - Great video - thanks for sharing!
SUPERB to see her airborne again! Notice the Number 4 engine - prop feathered on return - any problems?
Inadvertent vertical deviation.