Lowflynjack
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Jack Fleetwood
Here's the story about the last flight of Hawaii Mars. At least it will be in a museum, but too bad it won't fly again. Glad I got to see it in Oshkosh. Hawaii Mars Last Flight
Martin Mars, "Hawaii Mars" will now be part of the B.C. Aviation Museum.
The Martin JRM Mars is a large, four-engined cargo transport flying boat designed and built by the Martin Company for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the largest Allied flying boat to enter production, although only seven were built. The United States Navy contracted the development of the XPB2M-1 Mars in 1938 as a long-range ocean patrol flying boat, which later entered production as the JRM Mars long-range transport.
Four of the surviving aircraft were later converted for civilian use to firefighting water bombers. Two of the aircraft remained based at Sproat Lake just outside of Port Alberni, British Columbia, with one, the "Hawaii Mars", remaining operation until 2016. On March 28, 2024, the British Columbia Aviation Museum announced it acquired the Hawaii Mars from Coulson Aviation. It flew on its last flight to Victoria on August 11, 2024 and will become part of a permanent display, taking the museum's "Crown Jewel" title. [1] On April 25, 2024, it was announced that Philippine Mars will be acquired by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona to be put on permanent display there.[2]It is due to be flown there later in the year.
Photo by Ty Hedden
Martin Mars, "Hawaii Mars" will now be part of the B.C. Aviation Museum.
The Martin JRM Mars is a large, four-engined cargo transport flying boat designed and built by the Martin Company for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the largest Allied flying boat to enter production, although only seven were built. The United States Navy contracted the development of the XPB2M-1 Mars in 1938 as a long-range ocean patrol flying boat, which later entered production as the JRM Mars long-range transport.
Four of the surviving aircraft were later converted for civilian use to firefighting water bombers. Two of the aircraft remained based at Sproat Lake just outside of Port Alberni, British Columbia, with one, the "Hawaii Mars", remaining operation until 2016. On March 28, 2024, the British Columbia Aviation Museum announced it acquired the Hawaii Mars from Coulson Aviation. It flew on its last flight to Victoria on August 11, 2024 and will become part of a permanent display, taking the museum's "Crown Jewel" title. [1] On April 25, 2024, it was announced that Philippine Mars will be acquired by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona to be put on permanent display there.[2]It is due to be flown there later in the year.
Photo by Ty Hedden