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Topic starter
14/03/2022 5:54 am
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
14/03/2022 12:28 pm
When I was a teenager a number of these Martin Mars airplanes were languishing on the property of the Victoria airport in my home town of Victoria, British Columbia. I recall there were about 5 or so of them. I'm not sure when they first arrived there but they were all in mothballs it seemed and were painted dull grey. Whenever I passed by, looking at these once proud, massive planes made me feel kind of sad. Then one day I noticed that they had begun to be painted the comparatively striking colors of 2-tone red-orange and white. I then discovered that they had been resurrected as water bombers for forest fire suppression. They carried on in this capacity for many years and I believe they are still in demand, but to a lesser degree due to current fire fighting suppression techniques changing. I'm not sure how many are still serviceable but I think one crashed many years ago and perhaps one is used as a parts supplier to maintain the others.
14/03/2022 2:27 pm
Incredibly beautiful and useful aircraft….
14/03/2022 5:22 pm
Interesting article. I have seen the Martin Mars flying (years ago in British Columbia) and It was included in an episode of a TV program on aviation several years ago. Sorry to see it just sitting, given all the wildfires last year. Thanks JK.
John Kuvakas and John Kuvakas reacted
14/03/2022 7:21 pm
Beautiful aircraft. Thanks for the video JK.