To support its application to the United States Forest Service Interagency Airtanker Board (IAB)
to use the Martin Mars on wildfires on US federal lands, Coulson Flying Tankers was required to submit data on the drop patterns and ground coverage levels produced by a number of water, gel and foam drops. In addition to the IAB testing, Coulson Flying Tankers wanted to use the tests to
collect data on the load forces generated by drops from the Martin Mars and determine the
potential for structure coverage and protection. Coulson requested that Finnovations incorporate tests on structures located within the drop test grid.