The retirement of the last Martin Mars water bomber, the largest piston-powered propeller-driven aircraft in the world, marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another for Wayne Coulson, head of Coulson Group of Companies in Port Alberni.
The Hawaii Mars has been pulled out of the water and is now parked on a ramp at Coulson’s Sproat Lake base, with the chances of it returning to firefighting service flickering like a dying ember. But even as the Hawaii Mars slips into history, a brand-new plane bearing Coulson’s name is creating a buzz south of the border. Since 2007, the province has given Coulson a direct-award contract for the Hawaii Mars. But starting next year, the province will invite competitive bidding for a $1.8-million aerial firefighting contract. The Hawaii Mars, which can pick up 27,000 litres as it skims the water, will not be considered. A direct-award contact for the water bomber — which has 53 years of history fighting B.C. wildfires — no longer makes economic sense, said Forests Minister Steve Thomson this week. “The decision was based on the fact here are more cost-effective, efficient options available due to advances in airplane technology,” Thomson said. Smaller aircraft with turbine engines and smaller drop patterns will be more suitable for B.C.’s mountainous terrain, he said. The news isn’t going over well with Island residents, many of whom have an emotional attachment to the aircraft. “I think the airplanes have been given a bum rap,” said Port Alberni’s Hugh Fraser, who piloted the Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars from 1977 to 2010. “There’s not an airplane in the world that can match what these can do under these conditions on Vancouver Island.”
0 Comments
Airbus Group’s E-Fan demonstrator marked a new chapter in aviation history and opened the way to a new era of electric aircraft with its crossing of the English Channel today.From takeoff at England’s Lydd Airport to touchdown at Calais-Dunkerque Airport in France, the all-electric E-Fan demonstrator performed its crossing in 38 minutes. The E-Fan is bringing electric propulsion to the general aviation sector. Developed in an Airbus Group-led European programme, the E-Fan demonstrator was designed from the outset specifically for electric power – a world’s first.
Airbus Group's E-Fan demonstrator sets the stage for subsequent production versions: first, the two-seat E-Fan 2.0 version for basic pilot training, then the E-Fan 4.0, a four-seat airplane for full pilot licensing and the general aviation market. Now Cessna Aircraft has two diesel-engine aircraft in its single-engine line. The company displayed a Cessna 172 Turbo Skyhawk JT-A at EAA AirVenture and said that certification is expected "soon" for the Cessna 182 Turbo Skylane JT-A.
Cessna Aircraft will add a diesel Turbo Skyhawk JT-A to its product line in 2015. The Skyhawk JT-A is powered by a 155-horsepower Continental CD-155 diesel engine that is claimed to extend the aircraft's range to 1,012 nautical miles, a 58-percent jump over the standard Skyhawk, and to increase speed to 131 knots true airspeed while burning 25 percent less fuel. It will be offered as an option in 2015. The engine is already certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency for retrofit to newer Skyhawks under a supplemental type certificate. “We’ve been working for a few years now to find new, reliable alternative fuel solutions for the Cessna Skyhawk to meet changing environmental regulations, particularly in Europe, as well as the limited global supply of (avgas),” said Joe Hepburn, Cessna’s senior vice president of piston aircraft. “The recent advances and growing maturity in diesel engine technology in the aviation market now give us the means to satisfy a growing demand around the world.” At our local airport today (May 27th 2015)we had COPA where private pilots bring you for a twenty minute flight. i went with one pilot, and my youngest 8 year old brother went with another pilot. i (having left first) landed before he did, when my brother was just feet above the ground the wind gusted to a 20 KM an hour cross wind, they touched down, bounced twice and then when they where sturdy on the ground the wind caught the tip of the wing on the Cessna 185 forcing the plane to the ditch the pilot tried to adjust but ended up throttling up for a go around(abort landing) and wasn't able to take off, then hitting and locking the brakes hit the fence(at 15Km p/h) stopping the aircraft. luckily my brother, the pilot and other two passengers where able to walk away without a scratch on there body.
And this is the letter i wrote to the pilot of the Cessna 185 Skywagon, To the pilot who had a minor crash landing at the Fairview airport today, I have flown with you at COPA 3 times in the past years and you have been a great pilot and helped me to sustain my interest in aviation and you still do despite the accident. Today my brother was flying with you, and after the crash he said to us "I've never been in a crash before,that was a nice crash". You did a good job with the circumstances at hand you managed to keep the passengers and yourself out of harms way.Sometimes stuff happens that we cant always predict but you did your best and that's what kept everyone safe.Thanks! (P.S-Sorry about the Cessna 185 Skywagon I hope you and your plane will be in the sky's above soon) -"Any landing that you can walk away from is a good one" |
|