Hawaii Mars makes its final flight to rest at the BC Aviation Museum

The legendary Hawaii Mars, a 1945 Martin Mars water bomber that has long been a symbol of firefighting in British Columbia, took to the skies for its very last flight on Sunday, August 11.

Thousands of spectators gathered in Patricia Bay off Vancouver Island to watch the historic aircraft – one of only two remaining in the world – make its final landing before being transported to its final home at the BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich, BC.

The Hawaii Martin Mars, whose last active firefighting season was 2015, has been meticulously maintained by Coulson Aviation since it was retired. Now the 120-foot aircraft will serve as a permanent historical exhibit at the museum, commemorating its 50-year legacy in Canadian aerial wildfirefighting.

As the largest firefighting aircraft in the world, the Mars boasts an impressive 200-foot wingspan and was capable of dropping more than 25,000 litres of water per mission during its days as a firefighting aircraft. The impact the aircraft has had both within and outside the aviation community is truly remarkable – as evidenced by the high level of interest both Coulson and the BC Aviation Museum received in the final flight.

“The enthusiastic response from both the local and aviation community has been incredible,” Coulson Aviation said in a Facebook post on August 7. “Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to prepare the aircraft for this significant moment.”

“It is bittersweet for all of us. … We wish the plane a safe final flight and will all miss it!”

The aircraft took off from Sproat Lake, BC, at 3:20 p.m. local time on August 11. But before it began its final flight, the Mars flew over the lake as a farewell with the proud Coulson family on board.

Piloted by Peter Killin and Rick Matthews, the Mars made its way to Comox, then south to the Nanaimo coast and on to Croften where it rendezvoused with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Nine Snowbirds jets flew in formation with the Mars en route to its final destination in Patricia Bay, providing spectators with an unforgettable spectacle.

The Mars arrived at Pat Bay around 7 p.m. local time, and the landing was streamed live from the museum on YouTube. At the time of this article’s publication, the stream had over 110,000 views.

According to the BC Aviation Museum, the final flight path commemorated the “significance of the forest industry’s original establishment of the unique Martin Mars water bomber program in the early 1960s” as the aircraft flew over several forest communities in BC.

Now that the Hawaii Mars has arrived in Pat Bay, the aircraft is scheduled to be removed from the water on August 14 between 3 and 7 p.m. in cooperation between Nickel Brothers Moving, the BC Aviation Museum, Coulson Aviation and Cold Water Divers.

“The Hawaii Mars is skillfully maneuvered through the IOS breakwaters and slowly pulled up a Coast Guard ramp onto the IOS concrete yard,” the museum explained. “This moment brings the Hawaii Mars full circle, as this was the original ramp and location used to land the aircraft in 1960 and convert it into the most advanced water bomber of the era.”

The Mars is then lifted onto a 360-degree rotating heavy-duty trailer, which takes the water bomber to its exhibition location outside the museum.

The grand opening of the exhibition is scheduled for September 28. The museum said it is planning a unique “open experience” where visitors can explore the interior of the aircraft and even take the controls themselves.

Skies had the opportunity to take part in exclusive air-to-air photo shoots the day before Hawaii Mars’ final flight, as well as during the final flight on August 11. Check out the gallery below to see some of the incredible photos captured by our photographers Heath Moffatt and Derek Heyes: