My dad was the pilot/navigator on the Hawaii and Philippine Mars during WWII, flying the Pacific Rim. Based out of Alameda, bringing soldiers and supplies to the war and returning wounded soldiers back for care. Lots of history. Glad the plane and all its history have been saved. I hope it continues its story at BCAM.
>>> ___ A VERY sad sad day ... the younger generation really doesn't even really care about history, let alone true aviation history like this beautiful big bird. Yes, injust a few short years this will be forgotten, and scrapped. A sad sad day indeed !!! ___
I will never forget. I was vacationing Victoria Island in 1998 and we wanted to go to the Pacific Side. Unfortunately, we had not enough time to make it, so we just turned off the street on a little sign, saying "lake". Could only be beautiful, its Canada. To my total and overwhelming surprise, there were the two Mars on that lake. As an plane enthusiast, I thought I´m gonna get crazy. Especially, because I just learned of the existance of these beauties in a documentary on German television just 2 weeks before we left to BC. Canada is so big, and we just litterally stumbled over the Mars. Livetime memory....Farewell and thanks for the service!
Vancouver Island* Victoria is a city. That's a very lucky catch if you weren't looking for them indeed. Only two left in the world(out of only 7 made total) and both were based out of Sprout Lake here on the island. I saw them many times flying over the Cowichan Valley back in the early 2000s when I lived in Lake Cowichan(one of their most frequented water-stops besides Sprout Lake itself) When I say these beautiful machines sounded like a B-29 in full power, I'm not exaggerating... Four engine water bombers are no joke, the sheer power I witnessed as a little kid was absolutely awe-inspiring, even at 6 years old. And that was when they were working... I even got to see them battle a fire once when a brush fire started right on the mountain above the town. Gonna miss these planes a ton...
Since 1958 the Hawaii Mars has lived in BC, 66 years of her 80 years in BC. She's been an Island girl for 17 of those years and will remain here...congrats all the folks at BC Aviation Museum.
I watched this incredible waterbomber put out a fire on Mt. Benson years ago. Raging inferno was put out in two passes. Last year I watched multiple small "water" bombers trying to put out a fire at Sayward for hours on end. It was hard to watch knowing the Mars was parked and deteriorating at Sprout Lake. No other craft like it. It has been and will continue to be missed. Thank you Mars❤
It cannot be overstated how big of a deal this is to everyone on Vancouver Island. I grew up down the street from the bomber base on Sproat Lake. We had several close family friends who worked on the Mars bombers. I've been inside both bombers many times. I've walked across their wings. I even got to fly on the Hawaii Mars in 2010. I feel a deep, inexplicable bond to these planes. Growing up in Port Alberni we were always aware that we lived in a place with desert-like heat and endless lush forests, which is a terrifying recipe for disaster. Standing out on our dock and looking down the lake and seeing the two Mars bombers sitting there we always knew we had the best fire-fighting force in the world ready to protect us. Now I look over there and see nothing. Seeing the bombers fly NEVER got old. It never got less exciting. It never felt routine. We will never have anything like that again.
You are SOOOO right, pal ! Long live the queen - way better than demolishing these beauties of the sky ! As far I know the now remaining one will go to the Pima Air Museum / Tucson. A very well selected place. It will stay there together with e.g. the famous SOFIA flying telescope (a modiefied B 747 SP). Myself, I was project manager on ther German side for some time.
This for sure had to be one of the GREATEST achievements in B.C.'s History & something not only for CANADA, but Our Province as well. A true icon for B.C.
We were so fortunate to view from Sidney Spit, off Sidney Island. Such a heartfelt, patriotic moment. The recognition of the incredible service of the Martin Mars and escorted by our Snowbirds ✈️ 🎉❤. Breathtaking to watch.
As an American Aviator, I salute my Canadian Family for such a heartfelt send off. I watched the sales add in TRADE-A-PLANE and wasn't sure who or how this amazing plane might keep flying. I hope to visit her final resting place. Thank you for this amazing video!
>>> ___ A VERY sad sad day ... the younger generation really doesn't even really care about history, let alone true aviation history like this beautiful big bird. Yes, injust a few short years this will be forgotten, and scrapped. A sad sad day indeed !!! ___
@@apatheticempathyscrapped?? What drugs are you on? It’s landed within a couple of km of the awsome aviation museum they are already spending $250,000 + preparing to preserve her for everyone to see.
😍What an inspiring display this afternoon!! Having the Snowbirds flying formation was "icing on the cake". Thanks to Lana Popham and the BC government for supporting this project. The entire airport grounds were covered with people wishing to view the last flight, and hopefully support the BC Aviation Museum.
>>> ___ A VERY sad sad day ... the younger generation really doesn't even really care about history, let alone true aviation history like this beautiful big bird. Yes, injust a few short years this will be forgotten, and scrapped. A sad sad day indeed !!! ___
I am so glad that Hawaii Mars will remain in Canada. I saw her during a trip to B.C. in 2011. Also I am pleased that Philippine Mars is back home in her original livery in Arizona. May they live forever in retirement!
I'm glad its being preserved so that maybe one day i can come see it in person, but at the same time, extremely saddened that we have just watched and some witnessed the last flight of this beautiful machine. No one will ever get to hear her throttle up again. The propellers coming to a stop after she landed is the end of a chapter in history. Thank you all for recording this and sharing it with us! I saw a snow bird lone high above the formation, does this mean we will have some in flight photography of the formation as well coming soon? 👀
Well at least the "Philippine Mars" will get to fire up its engines one last time for the longer trip south to the Pima Air Museum at Tuscon, AZ. Where are they going to land it in Arizona? Nobody seems to know!
So glad I made it out to see her. Absolutely clear skies for a gorgeous final flight, to bring home an aircraft that has saved countless lives both as a naval transport and as a waterbomber. No doubt she holds a special place in the hearts of British Columbians and will no doubt get lots of love at BCAM.
I missed this flight, so I'm going straight to the BCAM to see her again.. last time I saw the Hawaii she was dropping water over my head to save the town of Lake Cowichan.
Wonderful to see her flying one last time! I will never forget seeing her making run after run, batting the Silver Creek Fire near Salmon Arm. It’s truly was a magnificent sight. She brought hope to an anxious community in a difficult time and was important factor in making sure the flames never reached the town. Here’s to you old girl!
In 1954 I flew from Honolulu to San Francisco with my Navy father and my mother, older brother and younger sister. It was just amazing and they even gave tours while in flight.
>>> ___ A VERY sad sad day ... the younger generation really doesn't even really care about history, let alone true aviation history like this beautiful big bird. Yes, injust a few short years this will be forgotten, and scrapped. A sad sad day indeed !!! ___
@@apatheticempathy Why have you posted your comment over and over again? The Hawaii Mars will be preserved, on permanent display at the BC Aviation Museum.
So many emotions seeing this in person tonigjt.. i got all choked up and teary eyed.. thank you to everyone involved to make this happen.. most definitely one of the top moments in my life
I couldn't hold back on the tears either.. Such a monumental moment in history. Beautiful it was... Bravo to Coulsen's ... et al ... Can't wait to visit her in her resting spot... More kleenex. 💘
I own a Colonial Skimmer, a single-engine hull seaplane that's almost as old as the Mars, so this was a very poignant moment to watch! Kudos to the Snowbirds for participating.
Never got to see the plane in person . Living in the US Except in video. I fell in love with it. Sad thaht we will never get to see it fly again. Never to hear those the sound of those big engines again. Brings tears to my eys. A very grand old lady indeed .
That was a great final flight. Excellent job to everyone involved with making it happen. I'm going to really miss seeing it flying around the Alberni Valley and seeing it at its home on Sproat Lake.
What a melancholy affair.....a tribute to the greatest generation and US excellence. She is 22 years older than me, yet far more amazing. Thanks for preserving such an immaculate testimony to patriotism. We need that more then ever.❤🇺🇲🇦🇺🇨🇦
"US excellence" Excuse me you threw these away, these are CANADIAN planes now, they wouldn't exist today without Canada, at least give us credit for keeping them around when you scrapped all yours.
This was so special. Me and my dad were having a random conversation last night about old naval aircraft while watching some historical videos and the subject of naval seaplanes came up. I mentioned one the seaplanes at the National Naval Aviation Air Museum in Pensacola Florida that we visited awhile back and I had a question about it. We were watching a few videos on it and talking about some of the Martins including the Mars. I questioned if any of these planes were still flying, sure enough I saw a six year old video from Kermit Weeks showing it fly and mentioning that it was 70 years old and it would eventually need to be retired. Who new tonight I’d be recommend this livestream and being given the opportunity to see its last flight.
>>> ___ A VERY sad sad day ... the younger generation really doesn't even really care about history, let alone true aviation history like this beautiful big bird. Yes, injust a few short years this will be forgotten, and scrapped. A sad sad day indeed !!! ___
@@bobdude9238 you say "lies about it being scrapped" what did Alberta do about 9 months ago? Oh yeah they scrapped the last two C-liner B units left anywhere in the world. Yeah no I think it's a pretty safe concern that people who don't give a shit about history will absolutely destroy it if it serves their bottom line... seeing as that is literally the world we live in 24/7. That said, credit where it's due... BC knew how important these planes are to locals when they sold them back in '06... the Phillippine Mars is going to the US which has a much more active aviation preservation community, and the Hawaii Mars... Well if they touch that, I'll personally find where they live... And you can read about the rest of my contingency for that when the news covers it. (it'll most likely involve kerosine)
The end of an once great era of aviation. Amazing for Coulson to have kept these wonderful aircraft flying for as long as they did but, still a sad day knowing we will never see the like of these behemoth sea planes flying ever again.
i was one of the lucky one to actually get to fly around port alberni ,I knelt between the pilots and looked out the front windows what an incredible airplane she was............ sad day and happy day too.
I remember the Mars landings and takeoffs from the seaplane lanes in Keahi Lagoon as a child.. my mother would take me from my kindergarten school at Hale Keiki to the beach at keahi lagoon every day.. the sound of the takeoffs always will be a memory I’ll never forget
As a 15yr old kid in the mid 80s I used to row my inflatable dinghy out on Taylor arm of Sprout Lake and float right up to them marvelling at the shear size of them then the guys would come out and do a pre-flight firing up the engines one by one of I remember correctly. I would paddle away and watch them take off and then come down and fill up. I watched them all summer and was heartbroken when they were sold. When learning of the fire in Jasper last month I wished we still had access to this plane. I watched for the one to fly over Nanaimo today with the snowbirds but for some reason never saw them. There was cloud cover but I figured I would have heard them for sure. I live right down by the waterfront downtown area. My deck has the perfect view.
The history of the large flying boat now in the local museum. We will be there to tour it and look forward:)Thank for all the work! Great idea and effort!
It's up to us now to educate the younger generation... I wouldn't be so quick to say she'll ever be forgotten. She saved BC time and time again... Now it's time we save her... 💘
The best parts of this start at 16:30 as it approaches and flies over the Victoria Airport with the Snowbirds, on its way to Victoria. Then again at 24:15 as it flies over Victoria before heading back to the Airport. Then at 30:23 the Snowbirds stay behind to do a few tricks over Victoria before heading back to the Airport. Then at 38:00 as it comes in to Land and at 39:20 the Snowbirds fly over it one final time!
I remember when they arrived to be refitted as water bombers. My dad loaded the family into the car and we drove from Victoria to Pat Bay airport where they had arrived and were awaiting conversion to water bombers. My dad called them flying box cars.
I hadn't even been made aware she was huge and amazing I'm sure, thank you for your years of service. .the Bette Midler song WIND BENEATH MY WINGS seems to suit here.
I didn't even know this was happening and I grew up on a lake served by the Mars Bombers... I'm actually quite pissed at the lack of communication I heard about this event... this plane was a big part of my childhood and now I just lost my ONLY chance to see it operational again? absolute dicks...
@@apatheticempathy it's not being forgotten and scrapped, it is going to an aviation museum so more people can see it and enjoy it and learn about its history. young people care just as much as previous generations did about history. They just haven't lived it the way you have, so you need to speak up and tell them the stories so they'll know.
@@bobdude9238 i just reported him for about three dozen of the exact same (incorrect) comment on at least three different videos. hope he has fun with that.
British Columbians should be absolutely proud of the pilots, and all those who have ever been involved with the Martin Mars Water bombers. Those people associated with that aircraft should be commended for the service, nationally, and internationally for their service 👍 Cheers, thanks to everyone throughout its entire history of service 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂Thank you all 🙏
Well Done to the video team - co-ordinating vision from different locations with difficult connection conditions is no easy feat! Will you be uploading an edited package later? It was enjoyable to see how many people turned out to see Hawaii Mars begin a well earned retirement.
Just 2 hours ago Hawaii Mars C-FLYL made its last ever flight and landing at Pat Bay Victoria. I am one of the few people to have flown on the Hawaii Mars and I filmed the entire experience using two TV broadcast quality cameras from those days. My video shows and explains how this amazing opportunity came to be: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fslSIt6XdnU.html
As a child about the mid or late 1950's, my father took me to Pat Bay Airport to view one of these Martin planes which had landed to be converted into a water bomber.
Visited Sprout Lake from the UK in 2014 to take photo's of the Mar's out on the water, never heard or seen her fly plus the other parked on the ramp, to top off had a flight care of Salt Spring in one of their Beaver's. Visited V island 3 times, wonderful views, food and people. If anyone see Beaver C-FZZJ give a wave from me, parked every night when staying at Maple Bay. Cheers BC.
I'm actually really sad I didn't get to see this, I was camping at Tuck Lake(north of Lake Cowichan) on this day... I had no idea the Hawaii Mars was flying again. If I had known about this I would have waited a few days to go camping... I still vividly remember Hawaii(and Philippine) Mars saving my hometown from a wildfire back in 2006. I had no idea that would be the last time I would ever see them in operation..
-I seem to recall seeing two of these airplanes, parked on--what lake did it always rest on up until just now?--back in 1994 when my late Wife Louise and I were on honeymoon on Vancouver Island. Were there two Martin Mars aircraft there at that time or was I seeing double lol??
Sproat Lake, . The Hawaii (the one featured) and the Phillipine (now painted in WW2 US Navy livery -awaiting its last flight to a museum in Florida, Pensacola, IIRC)
Good video except Popham she didn’t mention the name of “that plane, this plane, iconic plane, Martin Mars or Hawaii Mars as Mr. Coulson named Her. The Forest Industries Flying Tankers were gracious enough to sell us fuel for our helicopter C-GLMC at the Martin Mars base on Sproat Lake in 1986-1987. Both Martin Mars were there.
