Lockheed Martin Mars flying boat

CF-LYK Philippine Mars s/n 76820 Lockheed Martin Mars (flying boat) Forest Industries Flying Tankers (1 of 2 in service) on Sproat Lake (10 miles northwest of Port Alberni ). June 1978 . (the second one CF-LYL had a red tail Hawaii Mars s/n 76823) . The FIFT craft were fitted with 4 internal tanks carrying 30 tons of fire retardant water.Could put out a fire quickly. In one instance I was flying a Cessna 185 empty from a logging camp at Cypre River near Tofino, noticed a large shadow out my pilot side window. . .t’was a Martin Mars scouping water off the inlet for a nearby forest fire. My speed was 120mph , he passed me & got airborne too ! In 2015, FIFT /Coulson Industries lost many contracts because the Mars can not land on roads or airports. Specialty water bombers are now (mid 2000’s) being made that make many small drops in short periods of time , that don’t need lakes. The Mars were originally built to carry 133 troops & material during WWII from California to Hawaii. Flight time 11 hours westbound , 10 hours eastbound. Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder radial engines, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) each. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_JRM_Mars>