Philippine Mars Lands on Lake Pleasant, Arizona, En Route to Final Home at Pima Air & Space Museum

The last of the Martin Mars flying boats departed from Sproat Lake, British Columbia, early Saturday, making a stop at NAS Alameda near San Francisco before arriving in Arizona. Once at PASM, it will join a collection of more than 400 aircraft displayed across the museum’s expansive 80-acre site.

This milestone comes after overcoming setbacks earlier this year due to engine issues. In January, mechanical troubles forced the aircraft to return to Sproat Lake, delaying its long-anticipated journey. For a recap of our previous coverage, click HERE.

Throughout its journey from Sproat Lake to Lake Pleasant, AZ, the Philippine Mars was escorted, at different times, by several warbirds, including T-6 Texans, a P-51 Mustang, and the Arizona-based PB4Y-2 Privateer. The mighty WWII flying boat received a fitting farewell from fellow warbird operators, honoring its storied legacy.

The Mars fleet produced between 1942 and 1947, originally flew cargo missions between Hawaii and the Pacific Islands in support of the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, the aircraft was used for medical air transport and cargo lifts between Hawaii and California during the Korean War before being decommissioned in 1956. Each of these impressive planes was given a proper name, perhaps as a nod to their nautical roots. The prototype was named The Old Lady, and the production planes were christened Hawaii Mars, Philippine Mars, Marianas Mars, Marshall Mars, Hawaii Mars II (after the original Hawaii Mars was destroyed), and Caroline Mars.

In 1958, the surviving fleet of four aircraft was sold to a consortium of timber companies in British Columbia, Canada, and converted into the world’s largest water bombers, each capable of carrying 7,200 U.S. gallons per drop. Coulson purchased two of the aircraft, the Hawaii Mars and the Philippine Mars, in 2007, marking the beginning of the company’s fixed-wing air tanker operations for aerial wildfire support.

The Philippine Mars’ final flight will include stops in San Francisco and San Diego, giving aviation enthusiasts a last chance to witness this iconic flying boat in action. It will then proceed to an undisclosed lake in Arizona before being partially dismantled for overland transport to PASM. With the Hawaii Mars now proudly displayed at the British Columbia Aviation Museum and the Philippine Mars soon to join PASM, aviation history enthusiasts can celebrate the preservation of these two remarkable aircraft.

While the residents of Sproat Lake may feel a sense of loss as this iconic water bomber departs, aviation enthusiasts worldwide will celebrate its well-deserved retirement at Pima Air and Space Museum—a fitting home where its legacy will be honored for generations to come. Many thanks to Rob Frolic,  Janine Linning, and Coulson Aviation for the pictures.