# Claim table — Martin Mars water bomber capacity and accountability

- **Martin Mars could carry about 7,200 US gallons / 27,000 litres per drop.** — Supported with precision: BCAM/Coulson release says 27,000 L / 7,200 US gal; BCAM specs list 27,240 L tank max capacity.
- **It could pick up water in about 22 seconds.** — Supported as a range, not exact 22 every time: BCAM specs list pickup time 20–30 seconds.
- **New Canadair-class amphibious bombers carry only about 6,000 litres / 1,585 gallons.** — Mostly supported as shorthand: De Havilland Canadair 515 spec is 6,137 L / 1,621 US gal; 6,000 L is a rounded public shorthand.
- **6,000 L is only about 22% of a Mars load.** — Supported: 6,000 / 27,000 = 22.2%; 6,137 / 27,240 = 22.5%.
- **The Hawaii Mars is still floating in Port Alberni ready to go.** — Outdated / corrected: BCAM says the final flight to its forever home at the BC Aviation Museum was Aug. 11, 2024. Earlier it was based at Sproat Lake/Port Alberni.
- **The Mars was retired two years ago.** — Needs correction: Museum move/final flight was in 2024; Coulson/BCAM source says Coulson retired its Mars waterbombers in 2015 after earlier firefighting use.
- **It never should have been retired.** — Opinion / accountability argument: Capacity supports the public question, but operational readiness, maintenance, crew, certification, safety envelope, water-body access and dispatch doctrine also matter.
- **Water turns to steam before reaching the forest floor.** — Real physics concern, no simple public percentage found: Effectiveness depends on drop height, wind, humidity, heat, canopy interception, droplet size and target. We found no BCWS public percentage for evaporation loss.
- **B.C. should explain why Mars-type capability is absent while fires burn.** — Accountability question supported: The record supports asking for procurement/dispatch analysis, cost, readiness and rejected-options documents.