The Gigantic Martin Mars

It was a sight to behold. The Glenn L. Martin Mars flying boat was not only the largest seaplane ever manufactured by the United States, but it even had a galley, showers, sleeping rooms for a crew of 13, and could carry about 300 passengers.
Though capable of transporting record-breaking loads for long ranges, World War 2 would eventually hinder its production, and only six of them were built. Still, they played a pivotal role during the Korean War as long-range cargo aircraft.
As two of them were lost in the early 50s, the remaining ones, dubbed ‘The Big Four,’ were sold for scrap, but a visionary pioneer anticipated their potential and transformed them into another kind of weapon, one that would now put up a fierce fight against the forces of nature itself...
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

[@teoandrew5620]

I just watched Hawaii do its final flight with the RCAF Snowbirds down the coast of Vancouver island to Patricia Bay. It has not been removed from the water and its final resting place is at the BC Aviation Museum in Victoria, BC, next to YYJ Airport. Was very emotional watching the plane do its final fly over with 10000 other people. I also remember watching the plane land in Sooke Basin where I grew up; it refilled its belly and did some training landings during the 90's there. So excited to be able to bring my son to visit the plane in a few months time and go on board myself!

[@snake5838]

They have a long and rich firefighting history in BC, and are absolutely loved by the locals. Even the non aviation buffs know that they are something special, unique and rare. And though they have been basically retired for 20 years now, Coulson has kept them both in good condition, and Hawaii Mars is going to do her final flight in a couple of weeks. She is heading to the BC Aviation Museum, at Victoria International airport, to be put on permanent display. Fantastic to see Hawaii Mars staying local, where she spent the last 50 years as an icon. The second one, Philippine Mars, is supposed to go to Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona at some point. Needless to say, but her final flight to the museum is a big deal for the locals, and she is supposed to be doing a bit of a farewell flypast on her way to the museum. Last chance to see her in the air. And she is going to be on permanent display just up the highway from me, which I think worked out well for everyone involved.

[@Kaptain13Gonzo]

I live near the museum. It was a very moving experience to see the grand maiden's final flight. She will be a featured aircraft. she's certainly big enough to be seen from a distance. Her history has deep roots in BC firefighting.

[@captainsalty9022]

My first ride in an airplane was on a Mars from Hawaii to California. I was about 4. My father was a Marine Colonel returning to the continental U.S. from a stint at MCAS Kaneohe as co. Hence, he got VIP. treatment. I was invited to the cockpit, put in the left seat and allowed to tug on the control wheel which was immobile due to the auto-pilot system being engaged. The ride out to the aircraft in Hawaii was in a boat. That and the taxi time on the water was my first experience of seasickness. How things have changed!

[@soundknight]

Beautiful memory

[@johncunningham7672]

I flew from Hawaii to alameda when I was 9, I got to do all the things you did on the phillapine mars. I still remember the rocket packs when we took off. My father was a :o)

[@RandomButtonPusher]

My first airplane ride was similar, though I was only about 9 months old -- we were returning from a stint at Midway (where I was born), via some TDY at Honolulu, to San Fran.

[@johnbaran4428]

Wow that must have been so cool

[@lancejohnson1406]

Was your dad James L Neefus? VMF-221 and bagged a patrol bomber with an F2A?

[@Verminator4]

There's an undeniable unique coolness to these massive old seaplanes that you don't really get with modern aircraft

[@lifevest1]

Reject modernity, embrace tradition??

[@rob5944]

I think they are quite endearing, and what and incredible story!

[@elanthys]

These old flying-boats come from an age where planes were still organic machines, mixing metal with wood, fabric... and a bit of magic. They got hella character. 💛

[@blazzin42]

I had the.... I guess you could say pleasure? Of seeing 2 of these fight a forest Fire absolutely amazing watching them pick water up off the Okanagan lake!!

[@larryblanks6765]

You are so right!!!

[@davidford694]

My wife and I were returning from a brief holiday at Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. We decided to stop by Sproat Lake for a picnic lunch. The Mars water bombers were practicing across the lake from us, picking up and dropping loads. One of them must have spotted us sitting there, so he flew over and dropped a load of water about 50 yards from where we were sitting. What a sight! Our own private show.

[@pat8988]

That must have been cool to watch! Did you ever think that maybe the pilot DIDN'T see you, and you just missed getting dumped on?

[@davidford694]

@@pat8988 Very deliberate.

[@TheWolfsnack]

Yeah.....I recall two flights over Langford outside Victoria and immediatly put out a large fire at Thetis lake....the sight and sound of that plane flying low over my house was awesome!

[@willykanos1044]

My father flew as Plane Commander on the Mars aircraft out of Alameda. This was in the early to mid fifties. They set several new records. One thing not mentioned here was that a mechanic could walk stooped over inside the wings to check engines. When the Navy decommissioned the Mars it was replaced briefly by the R3Y. In 1957 he was transferred to Japan. I was ten.

[@flexinclouds]

The walking through the wings part is insane lol

[@adamkardas1262]

Oi the other bloke recons your talking shit about the waking in the wings bit

[@joandar1]

@@thumper742 Just a thought, if the plane was below a certain altitude then wings did not need to be pressurized for a person to stay alive! I do not have the plans for this, however some out there may and perhaps do if there was a way to go through the wings. Also remember that it is not mentioned in the original post that the plane was in flight! He was 10 then and may not have recalled all the details of his Fathers Words! I Suspect the wing walking, (inside) may have been a method of checking Engine oil levels as it was parked on Water when not Flying! Hard to use a ladder on water I think. John, Australia.

[@stevecook7551]

@@thumper742 Look up the you tube video that Kermit Weeks did a few years ago , It gives you a good idea where you can get to inside those wings .

[@stevekovacs6250]

Which Mars was your Father on?

[@desatinado426]

Hawaii Mars Flew for the last time in August 11, 2024, where it flew all over Vancouver Island as a farewell tour, before Landing in Saanich inlet (near the airport) to be delivered to the B.C. Aviation Museum. This airplane deserves to be revisited!

[@vansongs]

Seen these lots living all over BC all my life. Fought a few fires along the way myself. On the ground though. Live on Vancouver Island now just south of Port Alberni

[@zooot820]

Great to learn about this aircraft and it’s history in BC. Nice to have my province mentioned in a dark skies video!

[@machtschnell7452]

Nice place. Love Tofino.

[@paulloveless9180]

Super random but are you willing to briefly share any personal Sabe stories?

[@robertpearson8798]

I saw one of these beasts over thirty years ago while driving across Vancouver Island. It was cruising along on Sproat Lake, possibly picking up a load of water.

[@CruiseShips-he8vq]

I was fortunate to see Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars fight a wildfire on the east coast of Vancouver Island in 1982, they refilled in Parksville Bay. When they took off from refilling under power, and climbed over town under near maximum power at about 500 feet altitude, it was a sight to behold, still fresh in my mind after 40+ years, water spray coming down from the hull and tank tubes. I was a regular for decades at the huge Abbotsford Airshow held on the mainland not far away and the Mars in action was a match for everything I saw there.

[@douglawrence4066]

I saw these fight the massive Okanagan Mountain Fire in 2003, along with a stream of Bombardiers…. Truly a spectacle to see in real life. Thanks for this one!

[@dough8321]

I was there from Edmonton and saw it... Awesome sight!

[@sailingmaster]

The old flying boats are some of my favorite aircraft of all. There's just something magic about them.

[@alzheimer7629]

As much as I enjoy the videos, I get more from reading the comments by those who share their experiences of such wonderful aircraft.

[@tjm3900]

I have seen these planes in action several times, to see them pick up water and take off under full power is something I could never forget. You feel the sound in your whole body ! I recently learned they will be a permanent display at a museum Victoria British Columbia.

[@Dbodell8000]

Just the Hawaii Mars is going there. The Phillipine is going to Pima Museum in Arizona.

[@peterjohnston4638]

I am lucky to be able to see the two remaining Mars water bombers, Hawaii and Philippine, on a daily basis, as I work for Coulson Aviation at the Tanker Base on Sproat Lake, British Columbia. Even though they no longer fly, they are still magnificent aircraft to see, especially up close, where you can really appreciate their immense size. Their military origins and long history in fighting forest fires in B.C. has made them true legends of aviation. It was recently announced, in the local news, that they are up for sale.

[@nickg77]

Imagine retro fitting this plane and living in it and traveling the world in it :)

[@andymouse]

Wow ! yeah.

[@BrittMac422]

Jimmy Buffet outfitted one of the Grumman seaplanes as a flying RV. I wish I had that kind of money.

[@jimwjohnq.public]

That would cost some big $$$.

[@FlexibleToast]

@@BrittMac422 there was also a family that retrofitted some PBY Catalinas they planned on chartering. Their story took a crazy turn when they got abducted in the middle east. Definitely worth looking up and reading about.

[@davem5333]

@@BrittMac422 But for some reason it is grounded. Supposedly permanently. Structural issues? It is a Grumman Albatross.

[@waysofseeing1]

I live on Vancouver Island and in 2004 there was a fire in the Beaufort Range above our village. One or two Martin Mars from Sproat Lake were involved and would fill up in a nearby bay and then fly over the village gaining altitude to make their drop in sortie after sortie all day long. It was astonishing to watch. We were building a house at the time and would stop and pause each time one of these leviathans passed and we'd try and watch them make their drop shortly after with the spotter planes buzzing around like bees. It wasn't lost on us that we were witnessing something magnificent from another era. The fire, up near Tsable Lake, was extinguished over the course of the day. It was as though a Hayao Miyazaki animation had come to life.

[@kieranstevens2688]

What a fantastic video! I'm a wildfire fighter in British Columbia. I have pictures of the Hawai mars picking up water in front of my grandma's house on the lake in 1998. It was a huge reason why the fire didn't take the town I grew up in. Every year we have a bad fire season (which is just about every year now) there's always petitions going around to get the government to contract the mars to help. You would be amazed, some of them get tens of thousands of signatures. People love the thing here, and rightly so. The most humourous petition to go around concerning the mars was a few years ago when we had really bad flooding. People wanted it to come and try and lower the level of the lake, it was hilarious. I saw recently that Hawaii was for sale. Sad to not see them in the sky anymore.

[@sailorgeer]

I’ve lived in BC most of my life and I remember seeing these amazing planes fighting fires on several occasions. They always impressed ! I wish I had known more about this backstory and history at the time, it would have made the experience even better!

[@gaius_enceladus]

*Wonderful* aircraft! I really hope they can be saved and put in an aviation museum somewhere!

[@davisharr]

Well two years later and your wish is coming true, Hawaii Mars will be making its final flight this Sunday, to the British Columbia Aviation Museum, where it will spend the remainder of its life on display to be remembered, and enjoyed by the future generations!

[@rolandcanacolo6870]

I was a flight engineer 2001 we were grounded or I should say floating on water during 9-11 this was a pretty cool job being able to walk 400 feet on a wing inspection then go to the tail was another 200 feet you have to remember every where you go to inspect you halve to return to the flight deck, this is a two storie aircraft upper and lower deck, a daily pre flight was about a quarter mile internal and the external was done with a maintenance skiff a pre flight took 2 to 3 hours MJRM was the high lite of my Maintenance career when I hear or listen to anything about aircraft maintenance I just yawn

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Excellent history lesson. I’m from BC and most people my age know of those amazing giants.

[@edwardcarberry1095]

The three used to sit down the far end over on the Vic Airport, parents never took me over that end always wanted to see them closer up.

[@TheWolfsnack]

Until BC got it's worst Premier....

[@autodidact537]

@@TheWolfsnack That would be Glen Clark.

[@TheWolfsnack]

@@autodidact537 ...I thought that too until Gordo

[@millerkriese3064]

Yeah they are extremely inefficient at actually fighting fires. There is a reason they have been decommissioned, mostly due to ridiculous cost and inflexibility due to its size and takeoff distance.

[@RickandAndreaGetOutside]

Hopefully at least one of the two surviving planes will make it into a US museum someday.

[@Thalryu]

Looks like its in the works again to get the Philippine mars back to the us today we said are last good byes here in port alberni to the hawaii mars as it took its last flight to the bc aviation museum in victoria bc

[@chrishewitt1165]

My father was a fitter in the Australian airforce in ww11. He worked on many flying boat types. I have his photos. I love these aircraft. Excellent video

[@autodidact537]

When was World War Eleven? LOL

[@kimwit1307]

I hope that these planes can somehow find a good place where people can appreciate them. They've earned it.

[@UbiqueTransport]

This is the 1st DarkSkies video to bring a tear to my eyes.

[@stevebfpv1357]

I made a point of visiting the Mars tankers every time I was driving through Sproat Lake. I even got a tour of Hawaii once. I loved sitting in the cockpit and the old reliable technology of that massive bird. I've enjoyed fishing and watching the planes taking off and landing. Vancouver Island residents do miss seeing them in operations for sure.

[@demian7567]

I saw one of these fly overhead when it was helping fight fires in california about ten years ago. I heard it coming from a long ways away, and nothing else really sounds like it.

[@vectors2final36]

I've seen the Martin Mars fighting wildfires in SoCal a couple times in the 2000's. It was impressive to see the giant plane landing in Lake Elsinore to scoop up water.

[@rayjames6096]

That one in 2007 was the Hawaii Mars.

[@skyforce3580]

Living on Vancouver Island I've had these aircraft fly over at low level a few times. You could feel them coming, even indoors

[@davidshepherd397]

The Hawaii Mars did a fly by my town on its final trip to the BC Avation museum in Sytdney BC, What a beautiful bird.

[@robertross8565]

I was in Port Alberni sometime between 1997-99 when there was a large fire at a lumber mill. The Martin Mars was put into action and I rushed down near the mill to watch the plane in action. I climbed atop a railway car on a siding and watched as the bomber came down and dropped its load of sea water on the fire. I still remember feeling the spray as it roared past me and went back to Alberni Inlet for another load of seawater. I can hardly wait to see it again at its final resting place near the Victoria International Airport in the near future.

[@rustykilt]

Hopefully these two incredible giants will be preserved...if only for display.

[@joshring9710]

Salute to mars pilot flying in that emergency after the plane had been decommissioned for over 2 years.

[@thesaltysergeant4103]

I worked as a Wildland Fire fighter in BC as an initial Attack firefighter from 95 to 97. Our teams had a number of occasions where the Mars were active on our fires we were working. Fond Memories.

[@markmarco2880]

Fantastic is how this plane stirs the emotions. Much like an old movie star…

[@Fierofreak01]

Look up Kermit Weeks here on KZbin to get an up close and personal tour of one of the Mars aircraft. He goes through the whole aircraft and it really give a sense of its grand scale!

[@SVT-C0BRA1998]

Hawaii flew its last flight August 11th 2024 over Vancouver Island from Sprout Lake to Pat Bay to be set up as a museum with an escort of the Snowbirds, it was an amazing sight to see!

[@shadow4evr]

Love this video. One of them flew LOW over my parents house in Black Creek in the early 90’s - and I live about an hours drive away from them currently.

[@randyp3675]

One of the most famous planes in B.C.'s history, a Martin Mars water bomber used to carry and drop vast amounts of water on wildfires, is for sale for $5 million. "The opportunity to purchase and preserve a unique part of aviation history is now available for the discerning buyer, or donor," says the listing from the California-based seller, Platinum Fighter Sales.

[@johnnieangel99]

Built about 10 miles from me. I hope the last one gets to return home. It's for sale and the Museum would love to have it back where it was built

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

Then do something. Talk to the museum and local merchants about a fundraiser.

[@johnnieangel99]

@@wintersbattleofbands1144 They are aware of the sale. The Museum is very small. They are trying to find a way to bring their aircraft home. I'm not sure why you responded as you did. But thank you for responding

[@graham2631]

I've seen the Martian Mars up close a few times in their battle with fire. Watched one from drop to pickup could see the whole circuit from our boat. We stayed tight to the shore they scooped in the channel 150feet away I could see the pilots head in window. Watched about 10 cycles. The other time the town I lived in had fire on 2 sides water on one six foot old growth burning like matches. On the second day with dads on roofs putting out embers kids putting out stuff on the ground in came two Martin Mars it's indescribable to express the experience of those monsters flying threw smoke dropping so close you could feel the coolness of the drop. Four hours and fire out. Absolutely nothing ive seen since tops that day for sheer sensory overload. A friend of mine was coming down the Malahat to Victoria when fighting a fire on Bear mountain one went in the smoke and didn't come out. She said it looked like they were, in her words "hot doging". The pieces are still on the mountain side. If you want to experience a Mars just stand on a hyway and get 36 hells angels to ride full throttle straight at you.

[@michaeltrumper]

I grew up on Vancouver Island and spent much of my summers at Sproat Lake which was the home base of these marvels. Favourite pastime as a young teen would be to take our small boats out to jump the massive wakes these boats would leave when taking off or landing. The were key to the identify of the community as they would do a flyover during local fairs or derbies and were ever present in the skies during summer forest fire seasons. They are remembered fondly.

[@normferguson2769]

I was camping near Nelson, BC and head a radial engine startup. I ran down to the water and there was a Mars anchored a couple hundred yards away. Love the sound of those engines.

[@andywhite40]

Really interesting video about an aircraft I knew nothing about. Surely such a piece of history should be at the top of any aviation museum's list?? I really hope both of these aircraft can be preserved for posterity.

[@UbiqueTransport]

Kinda hope Kermit Weeks buys one.

[@DaVe-iSnOtHoMe.MaN.LemmingsWeB]

The last airworthy mars is for sale 5 million cad

[@elanthys]

@@UbiqueTransport AFAIK he had to decline because they can't afford it.

[@BaronBoar]

I live in the town the last two are located. I hope they don't go. Being that I live here I have seen them a lot growing up here. Seen them fight fires. Sometimes they almost appear to be moving so slow sometimes that you wonder how they can fly. I think the company that owns them wants to sell them to help improve and increase his current fleet of firefighting planes. One of the ones is painted up just like the old navy colours.

[@whirledpeas3477]

All dark skies videos should come with a double shot expresso

[@Jve4]

A person could own one of these, Mars Hawaii is for sale for 3,000,000 currently I believe, I always knew these as firefighting aircraft. Interesting to know they originated as military aircraft. Great video.

[@crackmonkeynet]

5 mill asking price

[@trey902]

Hawaii was just transferred to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria, BC and was flown down on August 11th

[@rebekahandersen797]

Hawaii has been retired to the BC aviation museum in Victoria BC. This is where she was originally retrofitted into a water bomber. You can check YT for videos of her final flight that happened Aug 11 2024

[@larslarsman]

So many older firebombers I've seen lately flying out of Fresno, Calif, have been retrofitted with turboprop engines. On the Mars, they would save a lot of weight over the piston engines. Maintenance minimal compared to labor intensive piston engines.

[@SierraThunder]

I know what you mean, I live by the airport & get to see the military aircraft that I helped to convert to tanker use up at Aero Union in Chico. It's kind of a two-edged sword feeling, on one hand, I love to see them flying, but on the other hand, when they fly, it's due to something highly serious, especially in the days of the mega-drought we're all living in. Fresno's become one of the main tanker bases for the southwest due to it's fairly centralized location, and yes, having those two remaining Martins to use would be nice, alas, due to the lack of a dedicated landing gear, making it virtually impossible to base them both at any airfield, plus the cost of maintenance & scarcity of parts to bear in mind, I'm very afraid that unless one of these uber-wealthy billionaires buy them to keep as air show flyover aircraft, then their days are unfortunately numbered. Mores the pity...

[@Steve757-fl1hd]

In 1955 or 1956 my father was a career Navy guy, a Chief. He was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. I guess that he and my mom decided we were going with him this time as a family. My dad went over first to get us set up in a nice Quonset hut in Pearl City military housing. We followed a month later. As it would happen - we flew to Honolulu on a Navy Martin Mars. I don’t know for sure that it was the Hawaii Mars flying boat. The Mars was a part of MATS and not terribly comfortable. Enlisted personnel in the lower deck, officer dependents on the upper deck. We sat on these fold up benches with canvas seats. Our inflight meal was baloney sandwiches, mustard on white bread. Kids got koolaide. The adults got black coffee. I finally fell asleep after my adrenaline finally settled down. At some point, I was awakened by that endless droning of the engines. The Mars had Wright R-3350-8, 18 cylinder alcohol injected engines. They were befitting called “corn cobs” as the engine cylinders were arranged in two rows of 9 cylinders each. Each engine put out 2800 hp. That’s over 10,000 hp. When I looked out the window I could see the most beautiful orangish glow from those Wright engine exhaust stacks. It was the coolest thing and all these years later I still remember that sight - the glow of the hot Wright R-3350 exhaust stacks. Man, that was something!

[@msa4548]

That's an incredible service life from these, hopefully the last two will find their way into a museum.

[@williamkaylor1191]

Love this channel...Im a. history. buff since a child, esp WWII and the American Civil War. Love it when I see a documentary about something I know little about, and it turns. out to be this interesting. The AMrs that is in Navy colors should deifinately be in Pensacola @ the museum. I visited it in the 90's and found it so good that I went back when vacationing 3 years in a row. If youare a fan of military aviation, its a must see

[@nathanchildress5596]

Hehe I bet your pronunciation of Alameda is how it was originally meant to be said, but we say it with a long E. Regardless it’s so cool to have such a slice of history near where I grew up. I’ve stayed overnight on the USS Hornet, visited the aviation museum there, learned to drive on the old naval base, and I even spend time at the skatepark there with old warships in clear view. One of the best places in the East Bay Area

[@SJR_Media_Group]

Can you imagine a fleet of Spruce Gooses. It was bigger than Martin flying boat by a long ways. They could have hauled passengers or troops, equipment, freight, had hotel accommodations, etc.

[@elsullo2]

If only they had been allowed to use aluminum for the construction!...........................elsullo

[@elanthys]

Hughes hated that name, they'd be a fleet of Hercules 😉

[@Dbodell8000]

The Spruce Goose was nothing more than a wooden prototype that barely flew once very briefly. It never would have survived the usage the Mars had.

[@Dbodell8000]

Both the Hawaii and Philippine have been preserved in aviation museums one in Canada (Hawaii) the other in the US (Philippine)

[@SJR_Media_Group]

@@Dbodell8000 Thanks for comment

[@skypedog5]

In the early 70's I was weekending at Yellow Point Lodge (Nanaimo BC) when all of the Lodge guests spent a very sunny Sunday afternoon on the beach while watching a Mars do many, many water pickups a few hundred meters away to quench a nearby forest fire. Always remember that day. The flight deck of the Mars is about the size of a living room!

[@lagirroc]

Hawaii Mars has been flown to Victoria the be displayed for all the world to see. She will take a special pace in history that is for sure !!

[@richardglady3009]

Thank you for telling this story.

I live in north vancouver bc and they've saved our neighborhood many times over the years ❤

[@claytonhowe2309]

My absolute pleasure to tour Hawaii Mars on assignment to our So. Cal Fires. Coulson's were really kind. Aircraft is beautiful and amazingly HUGE! Please preserve them somehow.

[@leobaker8762]

One of my favorite airplanes! For years the only information I had was a small navy book from pearl during the war. My dad mentioned seeing the first one flying over pearl

[@dast0m526]

These are stationed not far from me, very nice to see a video on them from you!

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

Back in 1994-ish, I was visiting Vancouver Island and drove by the seaplane base on the lake and saw on of the Mars aircraft in the orange livery, and they are HUGE. The Spruce Goose is more huge, but to see one out in the wild really give you an appreciation for how large they are. Thank you Dark Skies.

[@radarmike6713]

The MARS were the godfather's of the bombardier CL 215 . They proved that the aquatic water bomber was an amazing fire fighting platform. It's a shame they are left to languish where they are. But the saved MILLIONS of aches of forests and 10"s of thousands of homes and property. It's is an example of the amazing aviation engineering and abilities of Canada back post wwIi. Shame we've lost that here in Canada.

[@turkeytrac1]

Actually, the 215 are the opposite of the MARS. They don't require large deep lakes to reload. And can visit the fire site more times in an hour.

[@turkeytrac1]

Oh and venture aviation of Calgary and Victoria are looking to build both the CL 215 and the turboprop CL 415 again.

[@bacburrito4225]

Thank you for sharing this video, their longevity is incredible. The B-52’s might have a better record but it’s a mass-produce plane backed by US government. For These to last as long as they did is amazing.

[@bryanparkhurst17]

I love when you do Martin aircraft. My grandmother and aunt worked for Martins during the war. Got some great stories from them, love that you fill in the blanks.

[@MrBravo3600]

I used to watch the last of these beasts fight fires up in BC when I was younger. Truly a sight to see

[@pickelskin9848]

I have had the honor of seeing both Hawaii and Philippines in action in the mid 90's fighting fires in the Okanagan scooping from Skaha Lake. I was godsmacked I will never forget.

[@robertgarrett5009]

I saw these flying in the okanagan from the lake about 20 years back. Big and loud planes.

[@IslandUncharted]

Two of them lived in back yard on the lake here for many years, The Martin flew her final flight last week, to the the BC aviation museum. It was quite a sight, they were icons here

[@tommym6335]

Thanks for posting this video! Love anything Martin Mars related!

[@luistaborda7757]

Wonderful history of these flying-boats.

[@bubbasmith4950]

Thankyou for sharing this Important part of the Aircraft and BC history

[@428ghost]

TBM Avengers were used by the New Brunswick forrestry service as water bombers until recently. I drove by the fleet in 07 and took a triple-take at all the warbirds in civlilian colours.

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

I remember seeing those! So cool.

[@darkartsleather5586]

Awesome! I lived in Port Alberni and remember seeing these water bombers flying to and from Sproat Lake. Kermit Weeks has some amazing videos regarding the aircraft.

[@string-bag]

I miss seeing them, every time I heard one fly over I would run outside to see it :( Now up for sale.

[@shaundis2117]

Who else is here again after that awesome retirement ceremony ?

[@Taylod1]

Hawaii Mars landed in the Sannich inlet this evening Aug 11th to be added to the BC Aviation Museum, it was a beautiful site to see!

[@johnarnold893]

We used to go for sunday drives out past Pat Bay Airport and one time passed by the wreckage of Carolina Mars. My uncle lived in Port Alberni and we camped at Sproat Lake sometimes. We used to paddle around the Mars' in our inner tubes.

[@Lemurion287]

I remember seeing them back around 1980 when I spent part of a summer working up at Sproat Lake. Nothing I had ever seen before had quite prepared me for them.

[@billspooks]

I have heard many times about the Martin Mars during my lifetime. The planes are legendary.

[@raindogs451]

The US air force museum in Dayton, Ohio at Wright Patterson Air Force Base is a stupendous national treasure, unknown to too many. This would be a great addition to the museum

[@davidbarnsley8486]

What absolutely amazing aircraft Sometimes the designers just get it so right 👍👍👍 Great video

[@darrellscholl2973]

Usually I’m not interested in flying boats. But that dark blue paint on the Philippines looks really good.

[@jimhunter4880]

As a child in the late fifties/early sixties I was enthralled with the huge size of the Mars as depicted in Dad's vintage Air News Yearbook. Great to see film of the evolution and history of the two survivors and hear they are being preserved. The USN should preserve one for the East coast at Pensacola, FL. The second could be available at the West coast at either Corpus Christi, TX with the carrier Lexington or San Diego to go with the carrier Midway. Do it with private donations. Let us hope so.

[@shareurtube]

That still is a great looking aircraft. So functional and practical is so many ways.

[@Marvin-fn7ks]

Awesome story of these magnificent flying boats !

[@stephendownie1405]

Just watched the final flight of the Hawaii Mars on Vancouver Island. I've been watching it fight forest fires here in BC for my whole life. It's going to be messed.

[@johndavis6119]

I used to live across the street and just behind the Martin Marietta complex and the Glen L. Martin State Airport. The old sea plane ramp was still at the end of the runway. While the complex across the lagoon was making missiles when I lived down in Middle River, there was a complex at the airport for testing nuclear reactors to power sea planes. I worked on security at the airport in the late 70s and it was fascinating going through the old buildings. Middle River was a neat place back then.

[@Sailor339]

In 2008 I want to say, seen one of those big red and white beauties helping defend Northern California (Shasta County) from the aftermath of an off season thunderstorm Everybody loved seeing it fly around and be a shining beacon of hope

[@josephsullivan5145]

Talked with the daughter of the man who pushed for the purchase of the Mars planes for fire tanker purposes. She loved those planes and I could have listened to her for hours. Amazing planes!!

[@rookietrucker-vi]

Really happy that the local aviation museum in my small town of Sidney, BC Canada is getting Hawaii Mars into their collection

[@marinusdedreu3833]

I've been to Coulson when they had both the Mars' there. Got to go inside both and sit in both cockpits. Absolutely beautiful machines. Such a shame the politics of the BC government no longer want to work these giants. Coulson even has spare engines, spare cockpit, spare spars, etc. Would love to see them rigged out with turboprops and Coulson's new night vision system to get back to work

[@TomokosEnterprize]

The last (Hawaii Mars) lives close to me. She is one big tanker for sure. She has my attention every time I drive by when she is home.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Great new music. Meanwhile, let's hope that someone will save and restore these fine flying boats.

[@yourmanufacturingguru001]

Made in Baltimore. Friends in 1980s helped dispose of the machine tools that made these planes. Tools were huge so most were scrapped

[@HOWNDOG66]

Living in Port Alberni area we miss these. This July there will be a final flight and celebration as the last does a farewell flight to a museum in Victoria. Looking forward and also sad that this will probably be the last time we’ll ever see them fly.

[@josenighthawk]

Of all seaplanes, I submit that, BY FAR!, the coolest and most romantic was the Sikorsky S-38, first introduced in 1928, with possibly the lowest fatalities and injuries (most likely because it is primarily an amphibian), and there are still two or three left in pristine flying conditions! ... It was the 'Air Yacht' (though a small one) - a bi-plane that can stay afloat at even 60 miles/hour (you can even open it's sliding windows to take in the sights!), and where the high-heeled would fly off to secluded spots on the ocean, to sweam and even barbeque on its long flat nose! ... (It even appeared in Martin Scorcese's film, The Aviator, with Leonardo DiCaprio.) ... it is the EPITOME of ROMANCE!! ... Lord! Sikorsky HAS to bring it back! (with all the efficiencies and securities of modern technology, of course!)

[@robertdeen8741]

I believe I saw a couple' of them when camping at Sprout Lake back in the late ,70s or early 80s. I recall they were loud as hell when they started them up.

[@Ketel.Binkie]

Flying boats are amazing.

[@ml.2770]

Hawaii Mars II will become part of the BC Aviation Museum in Victoria in 2024. She is currently being readied for one final flight from Sproat Lake to Victoria. What will happen to Phillipine Mars is still unknown.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks