Coulson Aviation’s Aircraft Will Go On Permanent Display in Museum

In April 2024, Port Alberni, British Columbia-based Coulson Aviation announced it was donating its 1940s World War II-era Martin JRM-3 Mars converted waterbomber Hawaii Mars to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. 

It was originally anticipated to be ready for delivery in the fall of this year however, the company announced on June 24 that the aircraft will make its final flight to the museum in August, months ahead of schedule.

Coulson purchased two of the Mars aircraft in 2007 to begin the company’s fixed-wing air tanker capability to support aerial wildfire suppression. The waterbombers were used successfully in wildfire suppression until 2015 when the company retired them. The other Mars, Philippine Mars will be moving on to permanent display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

The Mars aircraft were the largest flying boats that ever entered production, although only seven were built due to the war nearing to its end. The Glenn L. Martin Company built them, along with other aircraft, in its Middle River, Maryland, plant to transport cargo for the U.S. Navy during the war. After the war they continued to transport prodigious amounts of cargo until the Navy retired them in 1956.

Britt Coulson, Coulson Aviation President and COO said, “Our Mars maintenance and flight crews have been working diligently to prepare the aircraft for its final flight. Despite what you might have seen in the media, the maintenance of this aircraft is still in flux. Various factors continue to impact the schedule, making it difficult to establish a precise completion and delivery date. However, we are pleased to announce that we have surpassed its original expected fall arrival date.”

Richard Mosdell, project lead on the museum’s Save the Mars Team, in expressing his gratitude said, “We are grateful to Coulson Aviation and thrilled to offer a home for the largest aircraft on display on Vancouver Island. Once the aircraft is settled in the museum’s BC Wildfire Aviation Exhibit, the BC Aviation Museum plans to offer a unique open format that allows visitors to experience the Hawaii Mars up close and personal, including the opportunity to sit in the 4-story cockpit.“

FMI:  www.coulsonaviationusa.com/fleet, www.mdairmuseum.org/mars-history