Mighty Martin Mars Great show and drop. Coulsons Open House

[waverly24]

Wonder if it would be worth refitting this aircraft with turboprop engines?

[blackwidow722]

i was there!

[NeyoFR74]

le monstre :p

[NeyoFR74]

le mosntre :p

[n1999b]

i was there! it was AWSOME

[blueflame53]

beautiful aircraft...thanks for the vid..

[MPZRACEVIDEO]

Impressive - 5:45

[richardwillett]

WOW don't see too many 4 engined flying boats any more! I didn't know there was anymore besides Kerment Weeks's Suthland down in Fla. Now does the US Navy's air museum have any dibs on one of these Mars? {They might already have one]

[groovy67]

I love the vertical rise as the water drops out! And they said Howard Hughes' plane wouldn't fly...right. Nice to see this huge monster still flying.I thought there were two of them.I must have missed an update somewhere.This plane is a flying museum and wish someone had the balls to build more.Piston power rules!!!

[katana1150]

The Mars flying boats are quite impresive but the maintenance cost must be huge!!. I wonder sometimes why we haven't upgraded our large water drop aircraft to jet powered aircraft such as the Beriev BE-200 built by the russians as a multi-role, amphibious firefighting aircraft. Bit smaller than the Mars, same capabilities but it may be more cost-affective to fight forest fires in Canada and the States.

[erad5]

not really, the plane itself and those jet engines require more attention than these piston motors. plus jet engines suck more feul up.

[jeepnutnh]

@erad5 not only is piston power WAY more efficient at low altitude, i would think they can handle the environment better...i know i would be very nervous in a turbine aircraft at low speed/altitude flying close to a forest fire...LOTS of debris in fire smoke, most folks would be very surprised at what all is flying around in that cloud (yes, even several hundred feet up). ive put out 25 pound chunks of timber frame that were raining down in the woods, over 1/4 mile from the burning barn....

[jpmoney384]

The U.S. and Canada also use bombardier "super scoopers" along with the Evergreen International 747. The BE-200 doesn't conform to U.S. drop requirements and isn't used in the U.S.

[katana1150]

I wonder what it would take to get the BE-200 certified to opertate in the US and Canada?

[jpmoney384]

It would take FAA certification, USFS approval along with meeting the Interagency Airtanker Board's Procedures and Criteria, and the most important element, Money. Most fire fighting aircraft in the U.S. didn't start life as such, they where bought as surplus and converted since it is cheaper. The Mars where navy cargo planes that where converted. It is rumored however that Hawkins & Powers (a U.S. company) might buy 8 of them.

[1vdn992]

I'm sure glad they didn't scrap those.

Largest airworthy flying boats.

I believe they removed the turbo superchargers to prolong engine life.

[dklord1]

Massive yet graceful, a great old lady. What a great privilege it would be to fly her. Thanks!

[ninjasqurl]

at 1:45 my dad in the plane he works at Coulsen :D

[already4001]

Great videocoverage...Wish I could hear and see that plane...Keep on posting vids, I´ve already added you as an favorite.

[ms15732850]

yeah i will never forget the first time a mars flew over my house. loudest thing ive ever heard

[NikitasGuitars]

what a great plane, and what an awesome landing! thanks for posting!

[tylermatsuda]

These are the greatest planes in the world!!!!!!!!!!

Great Video