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The Hawaii Mars at EAA AirVenture in 2016 (Photo Pete Markham (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The Hawaii Mars, one of the largest and most iconic flying boats in the world, has taken flight for the first time since 2016. This event marks a significant milestone in the plan to fly it to the British Columbia Aviation Museum later this month.

After a series of successful taxi tests, the Martin JRM Mars took off from Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on August 1st. During this first test flight in eight years, the crew had to shut down the number 4 engine before reaching the planned altitude of 6,000 feet. Despite this minor setback, the Hawaii Mars returned safely after a short circuit around the lake. With the issue resolved, the plane successfully flew again on August 2nd.

In March, the BC Aviation Museum acquired this iconic flying boat from Coulson Aviation, which had used it for firefighting missions for many years. The final flight of the Hawaii Mars to the museum in Victoria will be a multi-step process requiring airworthiness inspections by Transport Canada, crew training, and test flights.

The Hawaii Mars, after decades of service, was retired in 2015. Since then, it has been preserved and displayed statically at Sproat Lake. Acquiring the Mars is a major acquisition for the BC Aviation Museum, marking the end of an era while celebrating its heritage.

Visit Vintage Aviation News for more information and photos of this flight.