The Philippine Mars is finally en route to the San Francisco Bay, as originally planned, after overcoming setbacks due to engine issues earlier this year. In January, mechanical troubles forced the aircraft to return to its base at Sproat Lake, British Columbia, delaying its journey.
The historic flying boat departed Sproat Lake three weeks ago, beginning its relocation to its new home at the Pima Air and Space Museum (PASM) in Tucson, Arizona. The planned route included stops in San Francisco, San Diego, and an inland leg to an undisclosed desert lake. However, the journey hit a snag when the aircraft made an emergency landing in Patricia Bay on December 15.
Moored in Patricia Bay throughout the holiday season and into the new year, the Philippine Mars faced challenging weather conditions amid a series of storms. During this time, Coulson Aviation, the aircraft’s operator, evaluated the next steps for the massive flying boat. Previously, the Philippine Mars had been stored on land after its final firefighting mission in 2006, followed by a test flight in 2007. It returned to the water at Sproat Lake on November 7, marking the start of its long-awaited transition to PASM.
In March 2024, the British Columbia Aviation Museum announced its acquisition of the Hawaii Mars, now preserved in the British Columbia Aviation Museum near Sidney. Shortly afterward, the Pima Air and Space Museum (PASM) confirmed on Facebook that the Philippine Mars would become part of its permanent collection. Coulson Aviation later validated this announcement, expressing enthusiasm for the aircraft’s “forever home” in Tucson.
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 and Janine Linning for the pictures.
