Historic Philippine Mars Seaplane Embarks on Final Journey to Arizona Museum

The World War II-era flying boat, repurposed as a firefighting aircraft, has left Vancouver Island for its final home at the Pima Air and Space Museum.

The Philippine Mars, one of two remaining Martin JRM Mars flying boats, departed Vancouver Island on Sunday for its final destination in Tucson, Arizona.
The aircraft made a scheduled stop in San Francisco Bay, where it landed on open water before continuing its journey southward.
Originally designed as a U.S. Navy patrol bomber in the 1940s, the Philippine Mars was later repurposed for cargo transport and firefighting duties in British Columbia.
Extensive maintenance, including engine replacements sourced from its sister aircraft Hawaii Mars, was required to prepare the plane for this final flight.
The seaplane will be disassembled upon arrival in Arizona and displayed at the Pima Air and Space Museum, which houses over 400 historic aircraft.