Hawaii Mars - Last Flight

Lowflynjack

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
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Where does one land a Martin Mars in Tucson? Seems to be a dearth of aquatic landing spots. While large seaplanes do have beaching gear, never heard of it being approved for take-off or landing.
 
AquaLand said:
Where does one land a Martin Mars in Tucson? Seems to be a dearth of aquatic landing spots. While large seaplanes do have beaching gear, never heard of it being approved for take-off or landing.
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To be fair, they only have to land it once! Maybe a sea of foam? :biggrin:
 
The Philippine Mars ferry flight to Arizona is now delayed until January 2025.

From the Times Colonist (dot) com, 12/21/2024:

Philippine Mars is set to stay in Patricia Bay for Christmas, its trip to an American aviation museum likely delayed to the second or third week of January.​
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The hulking vintage aircraft took off last Sunday from its Sproat Lake base for the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona — where it is set to become an exhibit — but had to reverse course due to an engine problem that turned out be a blown cylinder.​
​
It was flown to Patricia Bay for repairs, but the decision was made to keep it there for now. Crews will be working on it in the new year, Wayne Coulson, chief executive of plane owner Coulson Aviation, said Friday evening.​
​
The idea is to give the retired water bomber one last mechanical overview by Coulson Aviation engineers before another attempt to make the trip to Arizona, Coulson said.​
​
“We want to go through the engines again and make sure all the valves are dialed in on the other motors,” he said.​
 
Does anyone know if there would be any TFRs or other restrictions around the Philippine Mars on its flights to SF/Alameda, San Diego, or Arizona? It would be awesome to be able to fly in ‘escort’ of that majestic aircraft for a little bit! Or would I have to stay so far away that it just wouldn’t be worth it?
 
Kevin Landel said:
Does anyone know if there would be any TFRs or other restrictions around the Philippine Mars on its flights to SF/Alameda, San Diego, or Arizona? It would be awesome to be able to fly in ‘escort’ of that majestic aircraft for a little bit! Or would I have to stay so far away that it just wouldn’t be worth it?
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There wouldn’t be any TFRs. But you might want to review 91.111(b).
 
I may be the last controller to talk to it. Aircraft destined to go to the museum land at Davis Monthan AFB and get towed across the road to the museum
 
Timbeck2 said:
I may be the last controller to talk to it. Aircraft destined to go to the museum land at Davis Monthan AFB and get towed across the road to the museum
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We’ll get a photo signed or something at least or tell them the pattern is full.
 
Timbeck2 said:
I may be the last controller to talk to it. Aircraft destined to go to the museum land at Davis Monthan AFB and get towed across the road to the museum
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Does Davis Monthan have a really big lake? No wheels on that thing. :-)

Though I expect it's quite possible they'll come by for a flyby before they go find water.

Still, it might be possible for you to talk to it. Get a CB radio and talk to the trucker hauling it in from that lake ~100 miles away they're going to land in....

Ron Wanttaja
 
According to this article, it is going to land at Theadore Roosevelt Lake and then be trucked almost 150 miles to Pima.

aerialfiremag.com

Philippine Mars Expected to be Transported to Pima Air & Space Museum Before End of Year | AerialFire Magazine

The final Martin Mars aircraft owned by Coulson Aviation will likely take flight for the last time in November or December of this year from its home in Sprout Lake, BC before making its final flight to Lake Roosevelt in Arizona, the largest water body in Arizona and the nearest body of water ca ...
aerialfiremag.com aerialfiremag.com
 
Timbeck2 said:
I may be the last controller to talk to it. Aircraft destined to go to the museum land at Davis Monthan AFB and get towed across the road to the museum
Click to expand...
Too bad you weren't the last controller to talk to it, considering it resembles your favorite airplane, the C-130... :yesnod:
 
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