Duke Maddog
Well-known member
Phenomenal work! I feel like I can sit down in there and start flippin' switches! Way to go!
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I feel like I can sit down in there and start flippin' switches!
Thanks fellas!
I feel like I can sit down in there and start flippin' switches!
Here's the checklist.
(A friend of mine flies the only operative Martin Mars, dropping water on forest fires. I sent Pete that cartoon as a birthday card one year, called it the Martin Mars prestart checklist.)
Yes he has, he's been down every time they've sent the airplane. Unfortunately I think they won't be using the Mars any more. From Coulson's site the word is there are no contracts for the airplane this season. Last year it was the same, but halfway through the fire season the short sighted government of BC was obliged to call on them once again. They say the Mars is too expensive, but what the bean counters fail to take into account is that - if there's a supply of water nearby - the Mars can save a million dollars worth of timber in an afternoon. Then there was the Government induced fiasco with the Philippine Mars. Coulson had worked a deal with the US Naval Museum in Florida - Pensacola? - whereby they would have acquired a Herc in exchange for the Mars. They'd even repainted the airplane in US Navy colours and installed serviceable engines for the ferry flight when the 100% freeze-dried, vacuum packed feckwits in Ottawa decreed the deal couldn't go through because - get this - of the airplane's Canadian heritage. Unbelievable!Has your friend ever flown that Martin Mars in Southern California dousing fires? If so, I may have seen him in action.
There are two crews of three to fly the airplane, plus the bird dog pilot and the ground support crew. They lost an engine - did a precautionary shutdown actually - the last time they were south, and the ground crew had the airplane back in the air within 24 hours. Their bird dog is a Cessna Citation when operating at home, but I think they have a Turbine Cessna 206 on amphibs for away.How many are actually qualified to fly it ?
Yes he has, he's been down every time they've sent the airplane. Unfortunately I think they won't be using the Mars any more. From Coulson's site the word is there are no contracts for the airplane this season. Last year it was the same, but halfway through the fire season the short sighted government of BC was obliged to call on them once again. They say the Mars is too expensive, but what the bean counters fail to take into account is that - if there's a supply of water nearby - the Mars can save a million dollars worth of timber in an afternoon. Then there was the Government induced fiasco with the Philippine Mars. Coulson had worked a deal with the US Naval Museum in Florida - Pensacola? - whereby they would have acquired a Herc in exchange for the Mars. They'd even repainted the airplane in US Navy colours and installed serviceable engines for the ferry flight when the 100% freeze-dried, vacuum packed feckwits in Ottawa decreed the deal couldn't go through because - get this - of the airplane's Canadian heritage. Unbelievable!Has your friend ever flown that Martin Mars in Southern California dousing fires? If so, I may have seen him in action.
There are two crews of three to fly the airplane, plus the bird dog pilot and the ground support crew. They lost an engine - did a precautionary shutdown actually - the last time they were south, and the ground crew had the airplane back in the air within 24 hours. Their bird dog is a Cessna Citation when operating at home, but I think they have a Turbine Cessna 206 on amphibs for away.How many are actually qualified to fly it ?
Two pilots per crew, total of four and probably one spare guy. I doubt they'll ever check anyone else on it. My friend has scads of float and amphib time on the Beaver, Beech 18, Goose and Mallard, and he is also a fabric and sheet metal man. Last winter he recovered both elevators on Hawai'i Mars, and his last fabric job was to recover the wings of a DH89 Dragon Rapide for a museum in Washington State, maybe the Museum of Flight, I forget. They used Hawai'i Mars last season to check out a bunch of Chinese pilots on large seaplanes, who will be flying that new 4-engined amphibian the Chinese are building.So, there's only two qualified pilots . :hmmm Guess it must be hard to get someone checked on that bird since it's the only example still flying.
Hey Chris, welcome aboard. This is a pretty decent place.
Thanks Uros. Did you build those wheels for that cart on FB?
Two pilots per crew, total of four and probably one spare guy. I doubt they'll ever check anyone else on it. My friend has scads of float and amphib time on the Beaver, Beech 18, Goose and Mallard, and he is also a fabric and sheet metal man. Last winter he recovered both elevators on Hawai'i Mars, and his last fabric job was to recover the wings of a DH89 Dragon Rapide for a museum in Washington State, maybe the Museum of Flight, I forget. They used Hawai'i Mars last season to check out a bunch of Chinese pilots on large seaplanes, who will be flying that new 4-engined amphibian the Chinese are building.So, there's only two qualified pilots . :hmmm Guess it must be hard to get someone checked on that bird since it's the only example still flying.
Hi Jim, all signed up and watching your build, now able to post. Thanks!
A win/win if there ever was one.The fire extinguisher needs an inspection tag... Don't temp him! But then again, he'll have to drink another beer to get the aluminum to make the tag so..