12 August 2024
+VIDEO One of two Martin Mars ‘waterbombers’ has made its final flight to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria, BC where it will go on permanent display.
‘Hawaii Mars’ was escorted to Patricia Bay, adjacent to Victoria International Airport, by the Canadian Forces display team, the Snowbirds.
It’s a fitting location for the aircraft. It was converted from WWII transport aircraft to waterbomber at Victoria almost 65 years ago by a consortium of British Columbia logging companies to protect their forest during summer wildfires. They are the world’s largest waterbombers carrying 27,000 litres per drop.
The two Martin Mars waterbombers were acquired by Coulson Aviation in 2007, marking the beginning of the BC company’s fixed-wing air tanker operations for aerial wildfire support. After using the aircraft for several years of successful wildfire suppression support, Coulson retired its Mars waterbombers in 2015.
“We are grateful to Coulson Aviation and thrilled to offer a home for the largest aircraft on display on Vancouver Island,” said Richard Mosdell, project lead on the museum’s Save the Mars Team.
“Once the aircraft is settled in the museum’s BC Wildfire Aviation Exhibit, the BC Aviation Museum plans to offer a unique open format that allows visitors to experience the Hawaii Mars up close and personal, including the opportunity to sit in the 4-storey cockpit.”
The second Mars, known as the ‘Philippine Mars’, will be heading to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. It’s not clear how the aircraft will get there since the Mars can only land on water!
Last flight into the sunset. The Martin Mars has helped so many people during its life. ❤️ #MartinMars #aviation #airplane pic.twitter.com/47j0ZR5CJ9
— Foster Coulson (@FosterCoulson) August 12, 2024
BC Aviation Museum shared a livestreamed video of the Martin Mars arrival: Watch here.
