It was just announced in March 2024 that C-FLYL, the Hawaii Mars, will be going to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria. A team of AME's and flight crew will be re-certifying and the aircraft will be prepared for its last flight, which will be from Sproat Lake to the Saanich Inlet beside Victoria International Airport. The final stage will take place on the Canadian Coast Guard Base Patricia Bay where the aircraft will be brought up on a ramp, mounted on a trailer and moved across the runway of the Victoria airport to the museum. Great to see this historic BC aircraft to be preserved.

Taxiing out from its Campbell River base. An early production Beaver, built in 1948. After an accident around 2002 in which it flipped over at Campbell River, put into storage for a number of years. More recently undergoing a long rebuild at AP Aviation Services, Courtenay, BC.

This will never be seen again. C-FLYL, the Hawaii Mars is up for sale for 5 million. Total time on the frame is listed at 23,497.8 hours. C-FLYK, the Philippine Mars was painted in its former US Navy scheme in anticipation of a sale that never materialized. The future for both of them remains uncertain.

"Hawaii Mars" on a short sortie from its Sproat Lake, Port Alberni, base on Vancouver Island BC

"Hawaii Mars" on a short sortie from its Sproat Lake, Port Alberni, base on Vancouver Island BC, performing a water drop as a demonstration of its firefighting powers.

The Hawaii at rest on Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island

C-FLYL and C-FLYK at Sproat Lake on a rainy day. I chartered a boat to take me out to see the two Mars up close. It was nice to get up close to them and circle around these huge aircraft. Both of the Mars are retired and its uncertain what their fate will be. Hopefully they will be preserved somewhere.

Side profile shows the massive size of the Mars.

The launch of a Martin Mars flying boat... a rare and very impressive event to witness! This must be one of Philippine Mars' last launches ever, as it was taken out of service at the end of the 2006 fire season.

Philippine Mars is about to be launched onto Sproat Lake in what would be its last operational firefighting season. The hatch in the nose is already open, from where the steering and towing cable will soon be attached. Note the impressive wingspan and overall size of this amazing aircraft.

The Martin Mars truly is a huge flying boat... Philippine Mars is seen here in what would eventually turn out to be her last operational fire season.

Hawaii Mars resting on Sproat Lake, awaiting its next firefighting mission.

Philippine Mars' engine #4 is receiving some necessary TLC. The next day it would be ready for its next mission and be launched onto Sproat Lake, for one of the last times in its career. This venerable lady was withdrawn from use at the end of this 2006 fire season, at the respectable age of 60.

White-tailed Philippine Mars seen floating peacefully on Sproat Lake near its Port Alberni base, in the last days of its very long career (60 years!). It would be permanently withdrawn from use at the end of the 2006 fire season.

Philippine Mars is being readied for its launch into Sproat Lake, a time-consuming operation. The four TimberWest guys put the huge size of this flying boat into proportion. The photo shows this aircraft's uncommon side drop doors (two on each side), which sistership Hawaii Mars does not have. That has the more conventional system with dropping doors in its belly. This photo was taken 10 days before this aircraft's 60th birthday, and during what would be its final fire-fighting season. This amazing machine was withdrawn from use at the end of the 2006 fire season.

Red-tailed Hawaii Mars as it could frequently be seen during a fire season - moored on Sproat Lake in a great landscape near its Port Alberni base.

The 'engine room' on the ship-like flight deck of the incredible Martin Mars. Many thanks to the friendly mechanics and to an equally friendly boat owner for getting us aboard.

Sitting pretty on Sproat Lake