Boats are pretty cool, as are planes. But did you know? What beats both? A flying boatespecially if it’s the world’s largest operating flying boat. However, today I have some sad news about the world’s largest operating flying boat, as Hawaii Mars just made its last flight to a transportation museum in Canada.
The The giant Hawaii Mars is one of two remaining Martin JRM Mars aircraft. This aircraft, along with its sister ship Philippine Mars, was designed during World War II for the United States Navy and is second only to the giant Spruce Goose as the largest seaplane and the largest wooden aircraft in history.
Since 2007, flying boats have been work as aerial fire fighter under the hands of Canada-based firefighting company Coulson Aviation. However, the two aircraft were retired in 2015 and have since undergone extensive restoration. Now, after months of sea trials and preparation, Hawaii Mars has flown for the last time.
The plane took off from its old base on Vancouver Island and flew to Patricia Bay in British Columbia last month, local news report Vancouver Sun. After landing in the bay, the giant plane was pulled out of the water and transferred onto a special trailer that carried it to its final resting place. When Vancouver Sun explain:
Nickel Brothers crews spent Tuesday and Wednesday lifting and securing Hawaii Martin Mars for the 3.2-kilometre trip from Patricia Bay to the BC Aviation Museum at the east end of Victoria International Airport.
The unit travels at 1 km/h and stops for adjustments, says museum president Steve Nichol. Steel plating is required to ensure the vehicle moves smoothly over potholes and changing terrain.
It took him about an hour to reach the coast guard facility fence, about 500 metres away, before crossing West Saanich Road, he said.
The seaplane is currently being prepared for display at the BC Aviation Museum, a process that involved hundreds of volunteers working to drain the plane of water and thoroughly clean it to remove all traces of salt water.
Currently, the flying boat is parked on the museum’s Airpark Walk along with a fleet of other historic aircraft. The next mission for Coulson Aviation and its historic aircraft will be to bring the Philippine Mars sister aircraft to Arizona, where it will be displayed at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson.
