Beloved Aircraft Slated to Depart Sproat Lake on December 15

Coulson Aviation recently shared the flight itinerary for the Philippine Mars aircraft’s final relocation to the Pima Air and Space Museum. SKYTRAC is supporting the journey for real-time public tracking.

The Martin JRM Mars is a four-engine cargo flying boat designed to serve the United States Navy during World War II. Seven were built in total, and four were later converted to civilian firefighting water bombers. Today, only two remain: the Hawaii Mars and the Philippine Mars. The Hawaii Mars remained operational until 2016 and took its final flight on August 11, 2024, before being put on permanent display at the British Columbia Aviation Museum.

In late April, it was revealed that Philippine Mars is to become the centerpiece of the Pima Air and Space Museum (PASM) in Tuscon, Arizona. It was repainted to its original Naval livery and entered Sproat Lake in Port Alberni, British Columbia for powered testing on November 4. The aircraft completed its first test flight since 2007 on December 3.

Coulson Aviation, which currently owns Philippine Mars, shared that the aircraft will be departing from Sproat Lake on December 15 at 10:00 am PST, as long as the weather holds out. It will begin its final journey with a flyby at Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay. Then, it will join the Hawaii Mars in Victoria, Columbia for a symbolic flyby.

Philippine Mars will stop in San Francisco for customs and to maintain daytime requirements, hunkering down for two days in the Alameda Lagoon. It will continue its trip south to San Diego and stay another night before making its final leg to Arizona. The aircraft will be disassembled and transported to PASM.

“Having both of the Martin Mars historically preserved in these museums is our way of honoring the role these aircraft have played in both aviation and firefighting history,” expressed Wayne Coulson, Coulson Group CEO.

SKYTRAC is partnering with Coulson Aviation to provide live flight tracking throughout the journey. The data can be publicly viewed thanks to SKYTRAC’s TrooTrax tracking and control software, and shared via its satcom unit.

FMI: www.coulsonaviationusa.com