Martin Mars Flying Boat - XPB2M-1 Mars

[OldGuy59]

All,
The last flight of the second remaining plane of the largest Allied Flying Boat to enter production. The concept aircraft was contracted in 1938. It didn't make it into WWII, as the airframes were delivered in 1947.

The Hawaii Mars’ final flight will be Sunday, Aug. 11 with a flight path from Port Alberni to Campbell River, Powell River, then back to Comox and down the coast to Victoria.

Youtube: FIRST FLIGHT IN 8 YEARS! - Hawaii Mars

Link-> Wikipedia - Martin_JRM_Mars

Link-> CHEK News.ca - Hawaii Mars Flies for First Time Since 2016

On 25 April 2024, Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona announced that it had acquired Philippine Mars, and that it will be delivered to the museum in late 2024.

Philippine Mars at Coulson Aviation facility in BC, now in Navy colors, prepping for delivery to Pima:

[flash]

How cool is that; what a beastie !

[mikeemagnus]

That's certainly one extra large heavy weight. Lucky you, Mike. You'll be able to see that flight live I guess

[Flying Helmut]

"monstrous big..."

[Teaticket]

Wow, this dwarfs a Mavis.

[Diamondback]

I woulda hoped they'd find a way to fly her to Pima. Cutting up an airworthy rarity is sacrilege...

[Jager]

Glad they could save such a fine beast of a plane.
Interesting turns history could have made, if the US hadn't produced engineering units to make airfields and ports almost anywhere.
Karl

[OldGuy59]

I'm thinking it will be flown to somewhere closer to Pima.

Looking on a map, and I can't find a lake anywhere near Pima. Not good for landing the plane. They did maintenance on the plane on land in Port Alberni, and there are images with the planes on wheels. Wouldn't do a great distance with them attached, though.

[OldGuy59]

No info yet.

Link to Flght Tracker-> www.flightradar24.com - C-FLYL

PS: Update - 15:20 hrs for launch. Two-ish hours...

[OldGuy59]

The Hawaii Mars tracker is not working.

Was told there was a Grummon Goose. Chase plane, and it was being tracked:

www.flightaware.com - N39FG

So, I managed to get a glimpse, but only just. It didn't do much over Comox but a distant fly-by.




PS: The BC Aviation Museum plans to have an open display of the plane, when it is installed in Victoria. Sometime in September, visitors will be able to crawl through the plane.

More photos to follow.

[abovetheclouds]

Thanks Mike for the heads up. I watched a few restoration, and walk-through videos of this beast before watching the live feed of it's final flight. I'm glad these two huge birds are going to be preserved in museums.

[OldGuy59]

BC Aviation Museum Livestream on Youtube:

Link-> Hawaii Martin Mars - Final Flight LIVE STREAM

15 mins in for Fly-over of the Hawaii Mars with Snowbirds escort at Patricia Bay.

24 mins in for Fly-over of Victoria waterfront and Snowbirds mini-demo

35 mins for Hawaii Mars arrival and landing at Patricia Bay (Victoria Airport and BC Aviation Museum)

[OldGuy59]

Moving the Hawaii Mars to the BC Aviation Museum:



Link-> VintageAviationNews.com - The Hawaii Mars Finally Arrives at its Forever Home

[Stumptonian]

Lots of great links there, Mike.

Not sure how I missed this when originally posted.
I had been expecting something from you after seeing several posts/pic/videos from Facebook friends on the island of the final flight with The Snowbirds.