Hawaii Martin Mars: Famed water bomber prepares for final flight [Video]

A piece of B.C.’s aviation history will soon have a new home.

The Hawaii Martin Mars water bomber, one of only two Martin Mars aircraft in existence, will be the centrepiece of the new B.C. wildfire aviation exhibit at the British Columbia Aviation Museum in North Saanich.

“The Hawaii Martin Mars water bomber is a proud symbol of B.C.’s ingenuity and innovation, representing cutting-edge technology in aviation firefighting of its time,” said Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport.

“We recognize the value the Hawaii Martin Mars water bomber holds for many people and have heard their desire to have it housed in the British Columbia Aviation Museum, where it can be displayed and protected as an important piece of our province’s history.”

The Hawaii Martin Mars was last deployed during the summer of 2015 to extinguish wildfires in B.C., Alberta, California and Mexico.

Previously it was a transport carrier …