The Martin Mars is coming to nothern Alberta

[wingit]

Before the Mars is hired for a job the local authority plan which lake etc they are going to use. If the nearest lake is simply to far in comparison to the closest airport then Coulson would not get the call. The Mars are still an important part of fighting forest fires. Coulson has had them in California and Mexico lately as well. If any of you are on Vancouver Island I recomment travelling to Sproat Lake in Port Alberni to check these aircraft out up close.

[Darkwing Duck]

I agree, who gives a crap for the term given to it, in the end it is a sweet flying machine. And Cat, fire needs 4 things: fuel, temperature, oxygen and a chemical chain reaction. They replaced the fire triangle with the fire tetrahedron years ago. See you can teach an old dog new tricks, haha.

Isn't that teach an Old Cat new tricks?

[iflyforpie]

I agree, who gives a crap for the term given to it, in the end it is a sweet flying machine. And Cat, fire needs 4 things: fuel, temperature, oxygen and a chemical chain reaction. They replaced the fire triangle with the fire tetrahedron years ago. See you can teach an old dog new tricks, haha.

I'll see your fire tetrahedron and raise you a fire ball.

[nutbutter]

The mars is pure rad, and that's all that matters! Its simply 4 times the awesome of a 415, who cares how much it drops? That airplane is a beauty
This thread needs more pics:





This thing is like a porn star with wings, and the only reason anyone would hate on this airplane is b/c they suck @life.

[nutbutter]

Anyone know why they haven't converted the big girls to Turbines? Has it ever been considered? Too expensive? Those are some lucky guys that get to fly her

[culver10]

Why is the Evergreen 747 not being used??

[The Mole]

Rumour has it a DC-10 is on the way.

[SierraPoppa]

.

[wee_in_yyc]

The DC10 (N450AX) is on the way to YEG then to YOD.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N450AX

[swordfish]

If anyone runs into a little preppie called Devery Salkeld (ex Cathay Pacific) driving the Mars, be sure to say hello to him! He's an experienced and accomplished pilot with flying roots in the NWT, and will surely make that puppy work its ass off on the Alberta fires.

Tell him Donald says hello, and needs his email address too, please!

[RFN]

nutbutter:

Thankyou for posting the pics; there is no earthly reason why we should have to read 2 pages of comments to get to the pics of this great bird.

[looproll]

here she is near Fort McMurray

Gregoire Lake June 4th:

[The Mole]

DC-10 laying retardent today.

[flyinhigh]

Where is the 10 flying outta, YMM I would imagine

Secondly, the 10 would need one huge support crew. Loading retardent, etc. Did they send a crew up early with trucks of retardent or what?

Yes I have no idea what retardent is so that is why I am asking.

[nutbutter]

nutbutter:

Thankyou for posting the pics; there is no earthly reason why we should have to read 2 pages of comments to get to the pics of this great bird.

thanks and seconded. I still can't believe anyone would hate on this thing, it's one of the coolest airplanes flying, who cares how efficient it is?

[Driving Rain]

The DC 10 is flying out of Cold Lake and the Mars is scooping out of Gregoire Lake after they scooped up a load of mud on Lake Athabasca so it's turn around times are just over 1 hour.
The 4 215's (3 piston and 1 T)are working the same area as the Mars but the turn around times are 3 minutes off Richardson Lake south of Fort Chip.

[CLguy]

One load per hour from the Mars and one load every 3 minutes from a 215. Wow that Mars is really pouring the gallons to that fire. It must really be making a difference! Doesn't take a genious to figure out the effectiveness of each aircraft. It's a good thing it looks good though but like I said earlier, as sad as it is the time has come.

Oh yeah it's just sour grapes!!

Sounds like it's going to okay even without the Mars as the Mexican Firefighters are arriving within the next couple of days.

[Tailwind W10]

News reports say Mars is being reassigned to work the south end of the fire along with the DC-10. (10 is indeed working out of Cold Lake air base.) Should improve the cycle times travelling the shorter distance. I imagine this means the CL's will work the north end.
Gerry

[All Sides]

One load per hour from the Mars and one load every 3 minutes from a 215. Wow that Mars is really pouring the gallons to that fire. It must really be making a difference! Doesn't take a genious to figure out the effectiveness of each aircraft. It's a good thing it looks good though but like I said earlier, as sad as it is the time has come.

Oh yeah it's just sour grapes!!

Sounds like it's going to okay even without the Mars as the Mexican Firefighters are arriving within the next couple of days.

Not sure why you even care how long their turn around times are, why don't you leave the logistics to ASRD. Everybody is working and making money trying to save property, lives and values.

The ducks might very well be more effective on this particular fire, doesn't mean the MARS isn't effective. Under different circumstances the situation might be reversed, you haven't answered my questions on the Kelowna fire yet.

Under certain circumstances maybe a Chinook would be more effective. They could drop a 30 man Rap-Attack crew, then long line 6 miles of hose, 18 Mark 3's, 20 jerry cans of gas, drop off 40 more Type 1's, bucket 2500 gallons a drop then go for a steak and a beer.

Relax CLguy and just work your end of the fire and have fun, looks like everyone will be employed for a while yet. Looks like I can join in next week and then have a first hand opinion. LOL

[SeptRepair]

I still can't believe anyone would hate on this thing, it's one of the coolest airplanes flying, who cares how efficient it is?

As a tax payer I have an opinion on how efficiently my tax dollars are being spent on antiquated technology that clearly in the majority of situations can be out performed.

The DC 10 is flying out of Cold Lake and the Mars is scooping out of Gregoire Lake after they scooped up a load of mud on Lake Athabasca so it's turn around times are just over 1 hour.

By scooping up that mud, I heard they ended up breaking off both probes.

[swordfish]

3-minute turns for a 215?

First of all they're the slowest plane flying, secondly they need to pick up, do 2 turns minimum, fly to the fire, get a sequence from the fire boss, drop, and return to the lake.

Time for a Timmy's in there, by any chance...?

[nutbutter]

The DC 10 is flying out of Cold Lake and the Mars is scooping out of Gregoire Lake after they scooped up a load of mud on Lake Athabasca so it's turn around times are just over 1 hour.
The 4 215's (3 piston and 1 T)are working the same area as the Mars but the turn around times are 3 minutes off Richardson Lake south of Fort Chip.

The problem is operational here, not the airplane.

[nutbutter]

BTW, the 215's and the Mars should have tuned up the radio to 126.7 and asked the local float pilots where the good spots are to scoop from, and the depth of the local lakes. Probably would have saved alot of time/money. They could have even asked the locals in Fort Chip about the deep spots at that end of Lake Athabasca. It's considered good airmanship to ask when you don't know, is it not?

[CLguy]

Actually Swordfish if you knew anything about aerial firefighting you would know that a 3 minute circuit with a 215 is actually a fairly slow and quite managable circuit. When you are into a 1 1/2 minute circuit you are getting pretty busy. Things get busy in a 415 when the circuit times are down to a minute and 10 seconds but there's always time for a Timmy's.

[All Sides]

Actually Swordfish if you knew anything about aerial firefighting you would know that a 3 minute circuit with a 215 is actually a fairly slow and quite managable circuit. When you are into a 1 1/2 minute circuit you are getting pretty busy. Things get busy in a 415 when the circuit times are down to a minute and 10 seconds but there's always time for a Timmy's.

Personally I would have to see that to believe it.
Been a fire or two ......