JKBC
New Member
Went up to Parksville to pick up my front and rear KTM 'lifting devices' and continued on to Port Alberni (for the 1st time) and further to Sproat lake hoping to see one of the last 2 surviving Martin Mars ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_JRM_Mars )...and they were both there!
Hawaii Mars was just used to fight forest fires again, but the contract is over...her future uncertain. Philippine Mars has been sold or traded and will be going to Florida....it is already painted in the dark blue US Navy scheme all 7 would have been wearing 70 years ago. These are the last 2 surviving Martin Mars. 200 foot wingspan on them. But I noticed a weird big short truck at their base as well....it is a Coleman (!)...4-wheel drive, diesel and they do use it to haul both Mars around. These aren't amphibious (with retractable landing gear) and have the wheels bolted on and off to haul them out and back into the water. Fuel consumption of those huge radials is awesome but so is oil consumption.
Look between the front and back wheels of the Coleman...that looks like solid steel/iron ballast?...Whoa!!!...Totally Awesome. I don't know which of them is the most impressive....hard decision.
Hawaii Mars was just used to fight forest fires again, but the contract is over...her future uncertain. Philippine Mars has been sold or traded and will be going to Florida....it is already painted in the dark blue US Navy scheme all 7 would have been wearing 70 years ago. These are the last 2 surviving Martin Mars. 200 foot wingspan on them. But I noticed a weird big short truck at their base as well....it is a Coleman (!)...4-wheel drive, diesel and they do use it to haul both Mars around. These aren't amphibious (with retractable landing gear) and have the wheels bolted on and off to haul them out and back into the water. Fuel consumption of those huge radials is awesome but so is oil consumption.
Look between the front and back wheels of the Coleman...that looks like solid steel/iron ballast?...Whoa!!!...Totally Awesome. I don't know which of them is the most impressive....hard decision.
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