Largest Warbird to fly to Oshkosh 2016

I would love to see this thing in the flesh...

A little more...


Flying Tankers inc. - the largest flying boats ever flown operationally

 

When I was doing airshows at Abottsford in the 60's they had the Mars at the show for two years if I remember. They built a large shack on the field for the Mars to water bomb it. The drop not only extinguished the fire that they had set but it flattened the shack. That airplane is something to see!

 

Found this picture of a Martin Mars docked on Lake Michigan right next the Adler Planetarium and Soldiers Field in downtown Chicago taken in 1949.
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Famous shot at lake Elsinore. What a great aircraft for the job
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A plane that has a long operational history here in BC. Yes, they did make appearances at Abbotsford, I remember seeing them there too. But in the late 70's and early 80's.

My uncle worked for the lumber giant Canfor. Started out logging in the 70's. Managing crews in the 80's, and finally at the head office in the 90's. Back in the 70's and 80's, any forest fire in the province, loggers had to fight them as crew. My uncle has a large photo collection of forest fires and planes including this one fighting them.

You'd also on occasion see them flying fairly low over head on their way to fight a forest fire. Especially if you lived in the Fraser Valley closer to the forests.

 

Saw the Martin Mars a few months back flying over the North Shore. Very cool to see in person.

 

Saw a great show on this airplane on TV, don't remember the network though. Very impressive airplane, pilots, and maintainers.

 

Have not been to Oshkosh in 15 years but will have to go now to see this airplane.