The Coulson Group is exploring alternate options for the Hawaii Mars waterbomber, according to CEO Wayne Coulson.
“We are to a point now where we need to find a home for the aircraft one way or another. [We’re] hoping we can find work for it and retain the aircraft.”
To that end, Coulson is taking the Hawaii Mars to the Oshkosh EAA Adventure air show in Wisconsin.
“We are looking to take the Hawaii Mars to Oshkosh EAA Adventure starting July 24 till July 31,” he said.
“We are looking at options to market the aircraft at the event and talking to sponsors that may be interested in short-term or long-term sponsorship with the aircraft.”
Both the Hawaii Mars and the company’s C-130s were passed over for the 2016 B.C. firefighting contract in favour of Conair Group’s next-generation RJ85 air-tankers.
The Hawaii Mars’ dark blue twin, Philippine Mars, is still scheduled to be transferred to a Florida naval museum this year.
“We continue to work with the U.S. Navy and the Pensacola Naval Museum on the Philippine Mars trade and make small progress weekly,” Coulson said.
“It is still the intent to deliver the Philippine Mars this year, however the U.S. government is a big engine that turns slow so we keep grinding through the system.”
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