A milestone event in aviation history is set to take place this weekend as the iconic Hawaii Martin Mars water bomber embarks on its final journey to its new home at the BC Aviation Museum.
Accompanied by the renowned Canadian Forces Snowbirds, this event promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
On Sunday, August 11th, the Martin Mars water bomber, a symbol of Canadian aviation prowess, will be making its way to the Pat Bay, located next to the Victoria International Airport, to join the museum’s expanding BC Wildfire Aviation exhibit.
Known for its impressive 200-foot wingspan and its significant role in firefighting, the Mars will now be celebrated as a central piece of aviation history.
The aircraft is expected to arrive at Pat Bay between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., weather permitting—it’ll be an event not to miss!
The Martin Mars will be escorted by all nine planes of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, offering a stunning aerial display.
Related: Historic Martin Mars water bomber to become part of exhibit at the BC Aviation Museum
For those eager to track the flight, real-time updates will be available on Flightradar24 using the aircraft’s registration code CFLYL. The BC Aviation Museum will also provide live updates on their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The flight route will traverse the east coast of Vancouver Island, paying tribute to the BC west coast forest communities that have been integral to the Martin Mars program since the 1960s. The museum will provide updated land and water viewing maps on their website, bcam.net, in the days leading up to the event.
Coulson Aviation, which has been instrumental in preparing the Mars for its final flight, expressed pride in seeing the aircraft’s journey come to fruition.
“We are proud to see the Hawaii Mars make its final journey to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. Our dedicated team has been working tirelessly to prepare the aircraft for this significant moment,” said a representative from Coulson Aviation.
“For the safety of our crew, the aircraft, and the Sproat Lake boating community, we won’t be sharing specific flight details, but we look forward to welcoming this historic plane to its
new home at the museum.”
For over five decades, the Martin Mars program played a crucial role in Canadian forest firefighting.
As one of only two remaining Mars aircraft, the Hawaii Mars will become a major attraction at the BC Aviation Museum, offering visitors a glimpse into its storied past.
In its operational days, the Mars could drop more than 25,000 litres of water per run, making it the largest water bomber in the world.
“The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are proud to be able to fly alongside this icon of Canadian aerial forest fighting as it takes its final journey to Victoria and its new home at the British Columbia Aviation Museum,” said Major Brent Handy, Snowbird 1, Team Lead.
“The Snowbirds salute the brave firefighters, in the air and on the ground, that work to protect our country from wildfires and we are excited to see this piece of aviation history be preserved and on display to honour and inspire aviators past, present and future.”
According to the British Columbia Aviation Museum, the final flight has captured the imagination of aviation enthusiasts worldwide, with over 5 million hits on the museum’s social media platforms.
To support the continued preservation of the Mars, donations can be made through the museum’s GoFundMe campaign at www.bcam.net.
Don’t miss this historic event as the skies over Victoria light up with a tribute to aviation history!
