ex-Coulson Aviation Martin JRM Mars C-FLYL
What a machine! The "Hawaii Mars" is one of two survivors, of just seven of these huge flying boats built between 1941 and 1948. After several years spent as transports for the U.S. Navy flying primarily out of Alameda and Honolulu, the Mars fleet was converted to firefighting tankers in Canada, a role in which they flew for decades. Coulson Aviation, headquartered elsewhere on Vancouver Island, was the last operator, and has now disposed of its two remaining aircraft - the "Hawaii Mars" here at YYJ Airport, and the "Philippine Mars" has been disassembled to be eventually put on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona. Many thanks to the volunteers at the British Columbia Aviation Museum for giving me a tour of the inside!
ex-Coulson Aviation Martin JRM Mars C-FLYL
What a machine! The "Hawaii Mars" is one of two survivors, of just seven of these huge flying boats built between 1941 and 1948. After several years spent as transports for the U.S. Navy flying primarily out of Alameda and Honolulu, the Mars fleet was converted to firefighting tankers in Canada, a role in which they flew for decades. Coulson Aviation, headquartered elsewhere on Vancouver Island, was the last operator, and has now disposed of its two remaining aircraft - the "Hawaii Mars" here at YYJ Airport, and the "Philippine Mars" has been disassembled to be eventually put on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona. Many thanks to the volunteers at the British Columbia Aviation Museum for giving me a tour of the inside!