Let’s keep the two-headed theme going a bit longer. Now this Coleman aircraft tug, shot and posted at the Cohort by Donnie Bazinet, isn’t quite in the same league as the Cougar we saw yesterday, but it does have a cab made up from two, welded together front-to-back. Plus, it’s just so irresistible.
So of course the big question is just whose cabs were used to create this monster?
Here’s a pic of the same tug I took some years ago. Sproat lake, Vancouver island, Martin mars water bombers are the tugs clients.
Alistair
’40-’47 Ford? Looks like they have the same basic shape, window outline, and belt line trim – although the rust makes it hard to be sure on that last one.
Alistair – love that shot of the Mars. Still flying? I remember flying into Billings years ago and seeing fire-bomber B-26Ks. No way this behemoth would make it off that short runway that ends in a cliff!
Robert,
I’m hazy on the story. Long and short is I don’t think Coulson is flying the mars out of sproat lake any longer. The planes are expensive to fly and have a particular range of applications.
I have it in my mind that they are or have bought canadair/bombardier 415 to replace the mars fleet.
There was a move to keep one of the planes here on the island as a museum piece. I think the rest (2?) went to the states. I suppose I could look on Wikipedia to get the latest…
🙂
Cheers
Ab
PS I saw the mars fly on two occasions. Once right over the house ( we live close to YYJ) when it put in an apprearance at an air show. The other time when it was putting out a forest fire, saw it from a distance. It’s pretty impressive
With that double belt moulding under the windows and the relatively flat vee of the windshield, I’d say you’re right.
Interesting. I did a quick search on Coleman and found another. CF-55-AF tug but this one is branded “Federal”.
This one looks like a Chevy Advance Design Series pair of cabs, not sure on the blue one though!
I think the design actually works quite well. Certainly a lot more cohesive looking than a 1960s Dodge crew cab even in this “suicide door” arrangement. It could also work quite well for co-workers to yak on the “porch” during coffee while leaning on the opposing doors.
These two-way vehicles are kinda fun. Found this link looking for more: http://carhumor.net/two-way-car/
GM truck, 1942-1947
Coleman also did 4X4 and 6X6 conversions of Ford, GM, and International medium duty trucks. They had a wacky constant-velocity universal joint in the hub, which necessitated the large convex cover as seen on the blue tug. It likely has 4 wheel drive and steering.
http://www.badgoat.net/Old%20Snow%20Plow%20Equipment/Trucks/Marmon%20Herrington%20%20Howe%20Coleman%204WD%20Conversion%20Trucks/Marmon%20Harrington%20and%20Howe%20Coleman%20Conversions/GW726H547-22.jpg
Coulson took a Mars to EAA/Oshkosh for the 2016 Fly In.
Pretty impressive airplane and highly unusual. Flyovers were special. Mars docked at the seaplane base on Lake Winnebago, a bit east of Whitman Field.
The airplane at OSH has been retired. The appearance at OSH seems to be part of the marketing scheme to sell the airplane to an appropriate collector/museum.
Hey, that’s me! Pretty cool to see a picture of mine on the cohort make it to CC. I don’t know if the bombers are still in use but as of September 5th 2016, when this picture was taken, there were at least 2 still at Sproat Lake. One was in the Coulson livery, and another was christened as “Philippine Mars” in a US Navy livery that said “Naval Air Transport Service” on the rear.
I would upload a picture but it keeps saying “varnish cache server” or something like that.