B.C.'s legendary Martin Mars water bomber makes final journey to its permanent home

The Philippine Mars water bomber, a legendary aircraft that fought wildfires in B.C. for nearly 50 years, has completed its final flight.

The massive plane left its longtime base at Sproat Lake in Port Alberni, B.C., on Sunday, bidding farewell to B.C.

After a brief stop in San Francisco, the aircraft landed in Arizona's Lake Pleasant on Monday evening.

Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Aviation, the company that has owned the water bomber for years, confirmed the aircraft will be dismantled before being trucked to its final resting place at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson.

"We're pleased to find a new home for it where it can live for eternity," said Coulson, speaking to CBC News from Arizona as the aircraft sat moored behind him.

The Philippine Mars was one of six prototypes produced by the U.S. Navy in the 1940s for large-scale transport between the West Coast and Hawaii. However, as aviation technology advanced, the planes were retired and put up for auction.

In the 1950s, B.C.'s forest industry purchased four of the aircraft and repurposed them into wildfire-fighting machines. Coulson Aviation purchased two in 2007—the Hawaii Mars and the Philippine Mars.

The Hawaii Mars was recently donated to the B.C. Aviation Museum in North Saanich. 

The Philippine Mars' final journey would have also come sooner, but the aircraft's departure from Sproat Lake was delayed several months due to mechanical issues, including an emergency landing in December.

In recent weeks, Coulson Aviation says its team worked tirelessly to repair the plane, even using two engines from its sister plane, the Hawaii Mars, to get it airborne.

 "We felt that was a safer choice to move this particular airplane," Caulson said. 

WATCH | ome early footage of when the plane was first introduced to B.C.:

Martin Mars water bomber comes to B.C.

7 years ago

Duration 1:27

The iconic B.C. plane first came to B.C. in the late 50s.

Vancouver-based entrepreneur and aviation enthusiast Ian Bell, who first saw the Martin Mars in action at Sproat Lake about 50 years ago, recalls being awestruck by its size and power.

"It was probably the most incredible thing I'd ever seen," Bell told CBC News. "Just the spectacle of seeing them do their thing is incredible."

Bill also recalls the Martin Mars being a highlight at the Abbotsford Air Show for many years, where large crowds would watch in awe as the plane dropped its massive load of water between the runways.

"I saw the Mars at the show every year for many, many years," he said. "I'm not sure when they stopped, but they always did the water drop demo. It was truly spectacular."

He says the water bombers are beloved by many throughout the province, but as wildfire-fighting methods evolved, the aircraft's services became less needed. 

"The time has come for these planes to retire," Bell said. "They've found a dignified way to spend their final years."

Coulson says the Philippine Mars will be available for viewing at the Pima Air and Space Museum in the next four to six weeks.