Because the story of the Mars Planes holds a special place for me, I felt that my original post wasn't entirely representing their whole story. Without changing the section about the Vancouver Island Pioneer Firefighters, I have added some back story to connect the Mars planes with their enormous past. Each of the seven Mars planes built has a complete history, making it challenging to write a condensed version of their story. Eventually, Papertown Station will write each plane's history, including a focus on its builder. For now, I wanted to bring to light their connection to the beginning of aviation. Mars planes are essential to history, not just on Vancouver Island but in world history. I hope I represented them well.
Change: I did change one thing in the story. I changed the story to read Lancaster instead of Spitfire, as readers have informed me that it is more likely the plane the pioneer pilots would have been flying if they had been bomber pilots in the Air Force during the war. I hope to provide more clarity when I return to write the rest of the Mars story.
A big shout out to the City of Langford for recently dedicating a beautiful park on Skirt Mountain to the memory of the pioneer pilots, The Flying Firemen.
So, are the Mars amphibious?
Before the Mars fleet was acquired in the 1950s, it was thought that amphibious aircraft were the answer to putting out forest fires from above (due to their ability to land on remote lakes and land if necessary). However, small amphibious aircrafts of the time couldn't always fly the full distance. In many cases, they were not built for it, not fast enough, nor could they carry enough water to make much of a difference when put up against a BC forest fire. This amphibious feature, specifically, in combination with mass and endurance, is why I believe the engineers first saw potential in the Mars and that the Mars planes 'could' become the world's largest and most efficient amphibious aircraft used for fighting fires from above (as the story states). It was thought necessary, at the time, before the Mars were converted, that a mean, firefighting flying machine should be amphibious.
This next part is where my lack of knowledge comes into play, simply because I'm not a pilot, nor do I claim to be an authority on the Mars subject, nor do I understand how the Mars functions (neither before nor after they were converted). That said, when the fleet arrived at Patricia Bay (see photo), it was noted that an electric winch was used to lower the aircraft's wheels (which each plane carried as cargo in its underbelly compartments), which were then attached to the aircraft while it was still waterborne. If engineers felt they could convert the Mars into waterbombers, they might have thought that making the Mars amphibious was within reach, as being amphibious was considered necessary to fight a BC forest fire in a remote region effectively. Given their size, it's a bit of a stretch, but that's my thought.
Numerous stories from the past, as early as the fleet's prototype, the Martin Mars, have called the Mars amphibious given that it was a desirable aircraft feature, especially during wartime (it had been that way since the Wright brothers). It could be that the Mars aircraft were indeed amphibious at one time or were often thought to be amphibious simply due to the numerous photos of these massive flying boats on wheels. Or maybe, in some small way, they fit into an amphibious category due to their ability to roll on land. Even today, you will find that the Mars are often referred to as amphibious aircraft (perhaps mistakenly... but that's not for me to say).
Hopefully, clarity will reveal itself when I return to writing the rest of the Mars story (if that day ever comes). I remember reading about amphibious aircraft in Martin's own words. But it was long ago that I did this research, and I'd have to dig that up again.
Thank you to everyone who weighs in on this subject. Your constructive input is always appreciated.
Thank you for following along!
🚂Papertown Conductor