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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.

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Squadron Leader John Hart DFC, one of the last four surviving Battle of Britain veterans according to Metro News, passed away on 18 June 2019. Born in 1916, Hart was a Canadian pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1938 to 1946. He flew Lysanders in the RAF Army Cooperation Command, Spitfires in the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes in Burma and Mustangs in Italy.

Source:

• Metro.co.uk | Battle of Britain hero, Squadron Leader John Hart, dies aged 102

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Vintage Wings of Canada’s Goodyear FG-1D Corsair C-GVWC in 2009 (Photo Henry Lo (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

Vintage Wings of Canada’s Goodyear FG-1D Corsair was damaged when it departed the runway during landing at Gatineau Executive Airport in Québec, Canada, on 3 July 2019. John Aitken, who was at the controls, suffered a broken rib and a broken nose but is expected to recover fully.

The extent of the damage suffered by the Corsair is unknown but Paul Tremblay, chief mechanic at VWoC, said that “we’ll definitely be able to get it going again”. The aircraft was expected to attend the Thunder over Michigan airshow in August, with up to 10 Corsairs attending.

We wish John Aitken a full and speedy recovery !

Sources:

• Ottawa Citizen

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A Harvard of the RCAF. (Photo RCAF)

The Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association plans on recovering elements of a North American Harvard that fell in Lake Erie in 1943.

On June 19, 1943, student pilot William Charles Smith of the RAF buzzed a passenger ship on Lake Erie and entered into a steep turning climb to avoid the ship. The 17-year old pilot lost control of the aircraft which stalled and crashed, killing him instantly.

The fuselage was recovered in order to recover Smith’s body but other parts of the aircraft were left on the lake bed. The CHAA is recovering these parts and hopes to display them at t he aircraft museum at the airport in Dunnville.

The association is also seeking two recover two Harvards that fell in Lake Ontario. One of these is reportedly in pieces while the other one is reasonably intact. CHAA president Walther Irie said “We’re hoping one will be in good enough condition to recover. That will be our primary target.”

Source: Simco Reformer

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Our Lysander had engine difficulty and performed an off airport landing. Crew dispatched maintenance to retrieve A/C pic.twitter.com/jm0LBSM3cp

— CWH Museum (@CWHM) June 18, 2016

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Westland Lysander Mk III (s/n 2363, C-GCWL) was damaged in an emergency landing in a field following engine failure near Cayuga, Ontario, on June 18.

The pilot and his passenger were unharmed, and the aircraft has been recovered by the CWHM for repairs.

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The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has announced on its Facebook page that its Lancaster FM213 will be painted and flown in the temporary markings of Lady Orchid, Lancaster KB895, WL-O. The usual VR-A markings will remain on the starboard side. “Lady Orchid was Lancaster KB895, a wartime veteran of 434 RCAF Squadron with 35 operations, the center section of which was used to restore Lancaster FM213.

https://www.facebook.com/CanadianWarplaneHeritageMuseum/photos/a.386671946279.203359.357014811279/10153817336216280/?type=3&theater

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A DHC Beaver preserved at the Canadian Air & Space Museum (Photo Plismo (CC BY-SA 3.0))

The Canadian Air & Space Museum based in Toronto recently was served with an eviction notice by its landlord, Downsview Park group. Door locks have been changed and the museum has been closed to the public since September 24. Plans for the historic building are to convert it into a four-pad ice complex.

Following a financially difficult period, the museum was late on its rent, and owed $ 100,000 to its landlord. The chairman of the museum says he recently sent $ 22,000 but that the group refused the money and sent him the checks back. According to the group, the payment of the rent is not the only issue. The building is crumbling, according to the group, and an operator has agreed to invest heavily if it is converted to an ice complex. The group has also offered to assist the museum to store its collections and help it relocate somewhere else in Downsview Park.

The building the museum is using is a former Royal Canadian Air Force building with a strong history: it is there that the Canadian Flying Club movement was launched in the 1920s. Some 3,000 aircraft were also produced there during the war, and it was later used for the development of iconic aircraft such as the DHC-1 Chipmunk, DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter, as well as assembly and testing of the Alouette 1, Canada’s first satellite.

The museum is appealing visitors to donate or purchase from the museum’s shop and support it by contacting their MPs.

Sources

•  The Vancouver Sun
• Toronto Sun