It has been a very good Birthday!
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@stahlbrandt yup!
our local paper has some more details and words from the current owner of the plane and the CEO of the museum.
Philippine Mars waterbomber dips its wingtips in water at Sproat Lake
Philippine Mars hasn't taxiied in more than a decade, was stored on land since 2015
Alberni Valley News (www.albernivalleynews.com)
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Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸replied to Christopher Griffiths last edited by
@cjgyt thanks!
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@chris Incredible! Thank you for posting! 🫡
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@flyingcircuits my pleasure
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Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸replied to Eugene Parnell last edited by
@eugeneparnell it really was! It was dark and raining all day today, so we really lucked out!
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@KimberlyN it was
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Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸replied to LA Legault 🇨🇦 last edited by
@LALegault @adhdeanasl thank you!
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@jeffzugale it hasn't flown in over 15 years but it will have two more flights this month! One warmup and systems check probably this week, and then a final flight of its life to its permanent home in Arizona.
It is actually using the engines and propellers from its sister #HawaiiMars because those pieces are still certified flight worthy as that plane was kept flight worthy right up to this year when it went to a museum near Victoria, BC.
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@airwhale thanks so much Tormod. It is an inspiring plane, and is always extremely photogenic!
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Chris Alemany🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸replied to the cagey sea last edited by
@cageyratfish so perfect! And then Sunday came lol. Glad we were able to get out there!
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@chris that’s fantastic. Are those the only two left in existence? Looking forward to seeing it on my next visit to Pima
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@jeffzugale that’s correct. Five were made plus one prototype I believe. One was lost “Hawaii Mars I” to an engine fire early on, then four were produced and flew successful service careers in the Navy: Philippine, Caroline, Marianas, and Hawaii Mars II until they were decommissioned in the 50s.
All four were bought by a consortium of forestry companies in BC in the 1950s for conversion to firefighting water bombers. Marianas Mars was lost while fighting a fire about 50km from my home on Vancouver Island due to a malfunction in the drop system. Caroline Mars was lost during a strong wind storm when it was on land still awaiting conversion.
Philippine and Hawaii served continuously from the 1960s into the 2000s. They last fought a fire together around 2004 I believe. They were the largest water bombers in the world, capable of bringing the most water of any aircraft, continuously, to any fire within range of a lake.
Philippine was retired in 2006. Hawaii retired, mostly due to politics, but also maintenance costs, in 2015.
Philippine is headed to Pima. Hawaii is already in Victoria,BC at the BC Aviation museum. The same location where they were all originally converted. They will be building a hanger around her.
