134 replies to this topic

[Blair M.]

The museums Facebook page unfortunately has no specific flight details beyond what was available a week or two ago. The same for its website. 

For reasons unknown, they either don't have those details, or don't wish to share them.

 

Coulson has already publicly announced they won't be providing the take-off time from Sproat Lake in order to prevent large gatherings of boats trying to watch, so it would seem the lack of details overall is safety related, intended to prevent large crowds from gathering in any one spot.

[Victoria Watcher]

https://www.facebook...LiJ5sRNXUj919Gl

 

[Blair M.]

If I didn't want my own pictures so badly, I'd definitely be staying at home and watching the live-stream!

Roll.Focus is #1 on Vancouver Island for video production and live-streaming, so their coverage should be excellent.

[Benezet]

Here’s the latest.

Attached Images

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[Matt R.]

Probably get a good view from work tonight.

[Victoria Watcher]

Thing hasn’t flown for 9 years. Fingers crossed.

[Benezet]

Thing hasn’t flown for 9 years. Fingers crossed.

It hasn’t flown since last night.

[Blair M.]

Great details. I'm glad to see they decided to go south of Pat Bay.

A lot more people will get to have a look as a result.

So many more optimum viewing locations as well.

 

The schedule reads a bit odd considering their published schedule at the Abbotsford Air Show today, but I guess we'll see.

 

The Mars has had a fair bit of time in the air over the past couple of weeks.

Edited by Blair M., 11 August 2024 - 11:04 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Nice video on X:

https://x.com/foster...VEUJpeFjILnnozg

Snowbirds did a good job.

[Nparker]

...Snowbirds did a good job.

I saw them fly over my area twice. Very cool.

[LJ]

The Mars never showed up on Flight Aware of Flight Radar 24.

[Nparker]

My sister caught this image of the Mars waterbomber from her boat moored at Deep Bay (about half way between Qualicum and Comox). 

[vortoozo]

The Mars never showed up on Flight Aware of Flight Radar 24.

 

It was on Flightaware. I was tracking it down at Pat Bay: C-FLYL Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

[Victoria Watcher]

The final flight of Hawaii Martin Mars concluded without incident in Patricia Bay on Sunday evening. Tens of thousands of people lined the shore and Patricia Bay Park to see the water bomber make its landing. People stood on top of cars and trucks to get a better view.

 

https://www.timescol...-escort-9335374

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,000+ people?   Plane flies at 3 or 4 thousand feet and people get 4 feet closer to it by standing on their cars?

[Sparky]

My fondest flying memory is of piloting our Cessna 150 to Cabo San Lucas on the tip of the Baja. Flying doesn't get any better than that. I have loved everything about airplanes as long as I can remember.

We were happy to catch the Mars and the Tutors yesterday from the point just north of Patricia Bay.

They came in low from the north and the sounds and the sights were fast, furious and instantaneous.

Priceless

[Victoria Watcher]

^ Good spot!

[Mike K.]

Excellent photo, Sparky. You captured the spirit of the day just perfectly.

[LJ]

It was on Flightaware. I was tracking it down at Pat Bay: C-FLYL Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

I didn't get anything on mine, I got the Snowbirds and just followed them.

[Victoria Watcher]

A grand opening of the exhibit is set for Sept. 28. The museum is planning an “open experience format” so everyone can explore inside the aircraft and have an opportunity to sit in the pilots’ seats.

 

The cost to the museum so far has been about $750,000, said Nichol. That includes the $250,000 the museum paid Coulson Aviation to acquire Hawaii Martin Mars and $250,000 for the move. The province has provided $250,000.

 

Nichol said Coulson Aviation picked up the cost to get Hawaii Martin Mars airworthy again. Its last firefighting mission was in 2015.

 

The long-term plan is to build a massive hangar to house Hawaii Martin Mars and other vintage firefighting aircraft, including the museum’s Corvair 580 and Douglas A26 Invader.

 

Nichol said the museum will start a fundraising campaign soon to raise money to build the hangar.

 

“It will have to be about 220 feet wide and long to get the Hawaii Mars in, and the other planes will just sit under its wings,” said Nichol.

 

The B.C. Aviation Museum relies entirely on grants, gate proceeds, memberships and fundraising initiatives, and is operated by hundreds of volunteers who put in hours as guides, archivists and restoration experts.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...in-mars-9343178

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 August 2024 - 02:36 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]