Giant Hawaii Mars Flying Boat Made Its Final Glorious Flight

Talyn · Aug 12, 2024

One of the last two examples of the legendary Martin Mars flying boats, Hawaii Mars has made a spectacular final flight, taking it from its long-time home on Sproat Lake in British Columbia, Canada, to see out its retirement in a museum. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy as a patrol bomber and then reconfigured as a transport planned for use in the war in the Pacific.

The Hawaii Mars had been used to fight fires in British Columbia for more than half a century after it was purchased and appropriately modified by the local forestry services. Coulson acquired it in 2007 and used it in the same capacity until 2015. The aircraft was put up for sale the following year, as we recounted at the time.

You Can Buy The World’s Largest Operational Flying Boat For About The Price Of A P-51 Mustang

Is owning a huge, 70-year-old firefighting seaplane on your bucket list?

www.twz.com

The company confirmed earlier this year that it would donate it to the B.C. Aviation Museum.

Giant Hawaii Mars Flying Boat Made Its Final Glorious Flight

One of the last two examples of the U.S. Navy’s largest flying boat, famed as a water bomber, has flown into retirement. One of the last two examples of the U.S. Navy’s largest flying boat, famed as a water bomber, has flown into retirement.

www.twz.com