Between the 25 and the 31 of July 2016 - more than 500,000 aviation fans gather in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 190 miles north of Chicago, for the biggest airshow in the USA: AirVenture. For its 64th annual event 10,000 aircraft of all types are on display.
Amongst the most impressive is the last Martin M-170, better known as the Martin Mars, still in service. It can be seen both on Lake Winnebago and for its demonstration flight, which will include a water dropping display. With a span of 200 feet, similar to a Boeing 747 and its four engines, it is the biggest seaplane in the world. Only six aircraft were built in the late 1940's by the American plane builder, the Glenn L. Martin Company, which has since become Lockheed Martin.
When first in service, the Martin Mars was mainly used to transport troops or freight for the American navy. Nowadays, the seaplane is used solely for firefighting missions. The hull can hold approximately 7,200 US gallons.
Also available on this video are: the opening concert of the San Francisco band, Third Eye Blind; the impressive US Air Force's military transport aircraft Lockheed C-5 Galaxy; an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 with an exclusively female crew to celebrate Boeing’s centenary and the role of women in aviation; the Canadair CT-114 Tutor, the Snowbirds' training jets of the Canadian Air Force's aerobatic team and last but not least, hot air balloons that light up at nightfall.
