One week ago, the famed and historic Hawaii Martin Mars water bomber wowed the crowds gathered to see the airplane fly overhead and land on the water just outside Sidney.
From Port Alberni all the way to Sidney, people gazed skyward to watch the mesmerizing plane, accompanied by nine Snowbirds flying in formation alongside and behind it.
As of Wednesday, August 21st, the plane is now safely at the BC Aviation Museum after a lengthy and challenging transportation process.
“Sorry we couldn’t announce the move day,” wrote a BC Aviation Museum spokesperson on social media.
“Moving an airplane sideways with a 200′ wingspan is relatively delicate, and poses a safety risk of people crowded around.”
They added the entire moving process was recorded from the ground and by drone for people to see when the time is right.
In the coming days, the company responsible for the Hawaii Martin Mars’ safe transportation will be deconstructing the trailer they’d built to move the aircraft from water to the museum.
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The BC Aviation Museum is predicting the exhibit—of which the Martin Mars is the crowned jewel—will be opening at the end of September, complete with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.
Following this opening ceremony, visitors to the museum will be able to view the plane in its entirety, inside and out.
Going forward, the museum is looking to fund and construct an entirely new hangar to document the history of BC aerial wildfire fighting, with Hawaii as the focal point.
For this endeavour, the BC Aviation Museum is fundraising and donations can be made both in-person at the museum, or online.
“From August 26 to 28, the Mars will be lowered into its concrete pads outside in the museum’s airpark to take its crown jewel place of honour beside our other iconic water bombers in the growing BC Wildfire Aviation exhibit,” wrote the museum.
For now, those itching to see the massive water bomber up-close and in-person can go by the museum and view the craft as a closed display from its rear.
