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.

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.

Two Piper Cubs were put on the wing of the Martin XPB2M-1 Mars prototype to show its size. This doesn't work too well in this view. The flying boat was rolled out on 27 September 1941. The photo date is given as late 1942, which seems too late. The Cubs, NC40743 and NC40745, are listed as manufactured in 1941. Photo by: Hans Groenhoff / Smithsonian Institution

Philippine Mars gets some service during a day of firefighting out of its Sproat Lake base.

The interior was open for public access.

This is the nose section of the eighth Mars which was never finished, because the war ended. It sat out in the elements for 62 years until Coulson took over the company in 2007 from the previous consortium. I remember seeing it overgrown in the bush behind the base. It has been nicely restored and at the time was part of their visitor center.

Wfu but kept in flying condition awaiting a contract that never came...

On hot stand by during British Columbia's fire season.

The British Colombia government cancelled their contract with Coulson Flying Tankers after the 2013 fire season. Both Martin Mars aircraft were put up for sale and the US Navy had planned to buy C-FLYK for display at he National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. Problems arose and the deal is yet to be consummated, so the big flying boat remains in Port Alberni painted in original US Navy colors.

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.