Thread by @bclemens

This, the last flying Martin Mars, is finally going to its forever home. Many of us were afraid it would be scrapped but a benefactor has stepped in to save it. One last flight is to come. Sproat Lake, British Columbia, Canada. 1/10 #planespotting #avgeek #aviationlovers #milair

This is one of only 5 production Martin JRM Mars built for the US Navy in WW2. They were the largest USN flying boat to enter production. Intended for long range patrol and transport, they came late in the war and their usefulness soon dwindled. The last was retired in 1956. 2/10

Each had its own name: Marianas Mars, Philippine Mars, Marshall Mars, Caroline Mars, and Hawaii Mars. On 5 April 1950, the Marshall Mars was lost near Hawaii when an engine fire consumed the airplane after her crew evacuated. 3/10

In 1959 the last 4 were sold to a Canadian firm, Forest Industries Flying Tankers, built as fire bombers with a 6000 gal. tank filled by scooping water from lakes at speed. 30 tons could be taken on in 22 seconds. They went for USD $25,000 each including tons of spare parts. 4/10

Marianas Mars crashed at Northwest Bay, BC, on 23 June 1961 in firefighting operations; all 4 crew were lost. A year later, 12 October ‘62 while parked onshore at Victoria airport, Caroline Mars was destroyed by Typhoon Freda when she was blown 200 yards, breaking her back. 5/10

The last two, Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars, are now both at Coulsen Aviation’s facility at Sproat Lake, BC. Coulsen acquired them in 2007. Hawaii Mars has flown regularly on contract until 2016 and Philippine Mars last flew in 2012 and has been used as a spares donor. 6/10

It was announced in March 2024 Hawaii Mars C-FLYL was acquired by the British Columbia Aviation Museum in North Saanich, B.C. It will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit. If all goes well, its last flight will take place next fall from Coulson's base on Sproat Lake. 7/10

Coulson Aviation will enlist five certified maintenance engineers and four flight crew to complete about 10,000 hours of aircraft preparation and flight retraining over the next six months to prepare the red-and-white Hawaii Martin Mars for its last flight. 8/10

The other bird, "Philippine Mars" C-FLYK, was retired in 2012 and remains at the Coulson facility on Sprout Lake. At one time it was slated to go to a museum in Pensacola, Florida but for whatever reason, this never happened. Its future is still uncertain. 9/10

There are lots of videos of Hawaii Mars. Here’s one I particularly like. 10/10