The B.C. authorities supplied a $250,000 grant for the aircraft to ‘defend and protect’ it
The Hawaii Martin Mars, well-known for placing out fires with a single flyover, will discover its new dwelling at North Saanich’s BC Aviation Museum within the fall.
“You’ll be able to see the DNA of the Mars story runs by this Island,” mentioned Richard Mosdell, Save the Mars undertaking lead.
The 60-by-36-metre Martin Mars will fly down the east coast of the Island earlier than it arrives on the Victoria Airport for its ultimate resting place.
“It’s going to do aircraft yoga round all of the buildings, throughout the airport runway in the course of the evening,” he mentioned.
On Thursday (March 28), the B.C. authorities supplied a $250,000 grant to “defend and protect” the aircraft that had been instrumental in defending the forests of the West Coast. The water bomber’s ultimate flight to the Saanich Inlet beside Victoria Worldwide Airport from Coulson Aviation Tanker Base on Sproat Lake in Port Alberni is predicted to happen in October 2024.
Initially, the aircraft was used to hold troops over the Pacific Islands to the Korean Conflict, earlier than discovering its subsequent function as a water bomber.
“It dropped an enormous quantity of water, extra water than has ever been dropped earlier than. After which they retired in 2015.”
Mosdell mentioned he had fallen in love with the aircraft and that seeing the aircraft overhead all the time gave him a way of security.
“My dad and I linked over our love of this plane.”
The water bomber was the largest operational flying boat on the planet, in accordance with the museum’s president Steve Nichol.
“It’s now out of date, and it wanted a brand new dwelling – and the BC Aviation Musem will present that new dwelling,” he mentioned.
Though the exhibit will not be but open to the general public, Nichol mentioned it will likely be accessible at its new location, permitting individuals to see the Hawaii Martin Mars up shut.
The aircraft, Mosdell mentioned, is similar dimension as a Boeing 747, and plenty of teams have tried to carry it to the museum however have discovered it too troublesome.
“The perfect puzzles on the planet to determine are the toughest. And we figured it out.”
READ MORE: Historic B.C. Martin Mars water bomber will fly one final time
