On July 28th, the Hawaii Mars conducted taxi tests in preparation for its ferry flight from Sproat Lake to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in North Saanich. As reported in March, the British Columbia Aviation Museum acquired the iconic Hawaii Mars from Coulson Aviation. The aircraft’s final flight is expected before the end of 2024 and will be a multi-phased process involving federal inspections, crew training, and test flights. Photographer Rob Frolic was on-site to film the event and generously shared his clips with us.

The team at Coulson Aviation has been diligently preparing the airplane for its ferry flight. After eight years on the dock, all systems, cabling, flight controls, and engines have undergone a series of detailed inspections. A flight plan is expected to be widely publicized, giving people along the route the chance to see the plane fly one last time. The museum is raising funds to build a new hangar on land donated by the Victoria Airport Authority to house the Hawaii Mars and other B.C. firefighting aircraft. This new exhibit will be interactive, allowing visitors to explore the aircraft’s features up close. The British Columbia Aviation Museum celebrates the past, present, and future of BC aviation with one of the largest aviation collections in Canada. Visitors of all ages will be captivated by our interactive experiences. For more information and to support our efforts, visit www.bcam.net.