Water Bombers

Just wondering if any of you have seen up close and personal or on video the Martin Mars flying tanker since it has started to work in California? I first saw them flying back in the 70’s when I was a teenager visiting a place called Port Alberni. I even got to see them flying overhead as they took off from or landing on the lake. They are huge aircraft, with large noisy engines.

I think that in priority I would want to see a SAR aircraft flown overhead, followed by one of these, if I was in trouble in the woods.

They also have an awesome story. Check out the story at www.martinmars.com
I hope that they are helping with the wild fires of California.

Well I have now, watched a couple vids on you tube. I had never saw one before. Yes they are working the fires in CA. We have 52 C-17 Globemaster 3's stationed where I live. Large planes are impressive.

Unfortunately, we are seeing them a lot here in NorCal, along with the DC-10. We are all wishing we didn't see them as much. Some of my favorite hiking areas in the Big Sur area are now free of undergrowth. The good news is that the amount of poison oak is now much reduced for cross-country travel. The bad news is that a lot of folks are without their homes.

Fires are a natural part of the environment and are vital to certain types of vegetation for regeneration. The Native Americans in this area used to intentionally set fires to clear out meadows, which attracted deer and other game for hunting. But the century or so of suppression has led to a huge buildup of fuel just waiting to explode into giant wildfires, with many many homes being built into the formerly wild areas, thus becoming high risk targets.

We have mostly pine forests where I live with lots of tinder on the ground, needles, cones, bark, twigs. The pine resin is quite flammable and is often used as a fire starter here.
Our saving grace is that most of the area is in the coastal plain and we have lots of soggy, swampy areas.
Our managed forests have fire breaks (dirt roads) cut all through them, which is probably not practical in mountainous country.
We do have a controlled burn program, and permits are also issued to private land holders for prescribed burns.

Forward thinking men of their time, looking after their own as well as the rest of us at the same time bought these aircraft originally to protect their timber areas here on Vancouver Island. We have lots of hills, Pine, Fir, Cedar, Hemlock trees, and few roads in any condition.
Always glad to hear of undergrowth reduction Bill. Sorry to hear of the loss of homes. I am glad to hear they are of help.

Just read the story of the Martin Mars, you are right it is an awesome story. Thanks redpatch5, for mentioning this, I had never saw one, nor did I know they were working in CA.
Apparently there are only two left, is that worldwide?

Trouthunter-I think that is right. There were 3 but one crashed a few years ago according to something I read. I saw one on the news last year during the Big Bear/Lake Arrowhead fires.

LA County usually leases a couple of the CL415s that Bombardier makes (they own the old Canadair company).

I remember seeing some of the big 4 engine flying boats back in the 50's when I was a kid living in Bermuda. The Navy used them for sub hunters.

I am huge fan of flying boats. Although it isnt as good looking as the smaller 2 engine models like teh Catalinas, I love this boat.

Sorry for the delay folks.

Yes The forest companies started out with 4 aircraft. One was lost in firefighting operations with its crew in 1961. One was destroyed while ashore by a Hurricane in 1962.

Only recently (as in the last ten years?) were they sold to Coulson Flying Tankers. The forest companies did not see a benefit to owning these Birds. Something about dollars invested compared to Timber saved. At the time it was a low forest fire year and so not used much.

There are only two remaining in the whole world.

Better tuck them in and kiss them goodnight.
Heard that saying from a navy pilot one time.
Means take good care of them I'm sure.