Philippines Martin JRM Mars Flying Boat Jan 8 2025 Update

8th Jan 2025
My good Youtube friend Shaun, way over there on Vancouver Island, has been out and about keeping us up to speed about what is happening to the massive Martin Mars, WW2 seaplane sitting in Cowichan Bay, Victoria, Vancouver Island.

This Philippines Martin JRM Mars Flying boat is one of the last remaining Martin Mars aircraft. 7 were built in WW2.

This particular plane is nicknamed the 'Philippines Martin Mars'. It is a large, four-engined cargo transport flying boat designed and built by the Martin Company for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the largest Allied flying boat to enter production, only seven were built. The United States Navy contracted the development of the XPB2M-1 Mars in 1938 as a long-range ocean patrol flying boat, which later entered production as the JRM Mars long-range transport.
Four of the surviving Mars aircraft were later converted for civilian use to firefighting water bombers. Two of the aircraft remained based at Sproat Lake just outside of Port Alberni, British Columbia, with one, the "Hawaii Mars", remaining in operation until 2016.
On March 28, 2024, the British Columbia Aviation Museum announced it acquired the aeroplane from Coulson Aviation.
It flew on its last flight to Victoria on August 11, 2024. On the evening of Wednesday, August 21, 2024, just after 9:00 pm, the "Hawaii Mars" was on a 360-degree rotating trailer as it crept across the active taxiways of Victoria Airport towards the British Columbia Aviation Museum. It will become part of a permanent display there, taking the museum's "Crown Jewel" title.

On April 25, 2024, it was announced that "Philippine Mars" will be acquired by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona to be put on permanent display there. It is due to be flown there later in the year. It entered the Sproat Lake water for powered testing November 04, 2024. It flew on a test flight December 03, 2024

Unfortunately the elderly, "Philippine Mars" has run into engine trouble and the planned flight to Tuscon Arizona has had to be abandoned for the time being.

The December 15, 2024 flight, scheduled to arrive in San Francisco Bay, was aborted after troubles with the number 4 engine arose in flight. The plane turned around over Port Townsend, Washington and put down in a sheltered anchorage near Victoria International Airport after about two hours in the air.

For further information check out-
Chek News
'Philippine Mars didn’t leave Vancouver Island as planned Sunday'.
https://cheknews.ca/philippine-mars-d...

******** Many thanks Shaun!! ********

Latest News!!!!! And the
"Philippine Mars" January 10/25'
Gets Away!
   • "Philippine Mars" January 10/25  
This video was shot by
Campbell McCubbin!