1945 Martin JRM-3 Mars For Sale

The Martin JRM Mars was conceived in 1941 as a patrol bomber, intended to scale up the already existing Martin PBM Mariner. Being the largest flying boat ever to enter Allied service during WWII, it was soon assigned the role of a transport aircraft instead.
After successful tests in 1943, the Navy originally decided to order 20 aircraft. Later they reduced the order to only the five which were already being manufactured. Those five aircraft were designated as Marianas Mars, Philippine Mars, Marshall Mars, Caroline Mars, and Hawaii Mars. Unfortunately, several weeks after conducting successful test flights, the first Hawaii Mars crashed in Chesapeake Bay.
Even though this four-engined giant had to wait until January 1944 to officially enter service with the U.S. Navy, it continued to be employed after the war as a useful asset.
Used mainly for exhibition purposes, Caroline Mars set a world record for passenger loads on 4 March 1949 by carrying 269 people from San Diego to Alameda, CA. Marshall Mars, was lost in 1950 after an engine caught fire whilst in Hawaii. Despite malfunctions, the four surviving Martin JRM Mars aircraft served with cargo duties until 1956, when they were officially retired. The aircraft were almost sold for scrap, but in 1959 they were given a second chance. A Canadian company, Forest Industries Flying Tankers, purchased them to serve as part of their forest fire prevention inventory. The conversion enabled the aircraft to carry 7,200 U.S. gallons of water, covering an area of up to 4 acres.
The planes designated as Marianas Mars and Caroline Mars were the first to become water bombers. In 1961 Marianas Mars suffered an accident while participating in a firefighting operation near Northwest Bay, BC, Canada. Just two years later, Caroline Mars had a similar accident. Afterward the remaining two Martin JRM Mars planes, Hawaii Mars II and Philippine Mars, were both converted into water bombers and remained in service until Hawaii Mars II eventually retired in 2015 - far beyond anyone’s expectations.
More recently, Hawaii Mars II starred at the EAA’s 2016 Air Venture, thrilling many enthusiasts when simulating “fire attacks” on the Oshkosh Airfield. Today, Hawaii Mars II remains the only airworthy example of it’s type in the world. The opportunity to purchase and preserve a unique part of aviation history is now available for the discerning buyer, or donor. Offered for sale by Platinum Fighter Sales.

[dr_gimpy]

I'm glad that the Hawaii Mars was donated to one of my favorite places the BC Aviation Museum.

[mattharte]

Wow! Hope she goes to a good home! I remember watching Kermit’s video on her, incredible aircraft.

[barontaylor]

This plane is going to the BC Aviation Museum by the Victoria Airport

[kenrutherford]

Coulson Aviation did not convert the aircraft to fight forest fires. That was done by MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. Coulson's eventually bought the aircraft and did some modernization.

[zeetack]

LADS this is the biggest flying boat we will ever see on market

[jmace]

I went to sprout lake this summer and seen her hopefully somebody keeps her flying I remember wather her at airshows at cfb comox

[bluehornet]

For an asking price of a mere $5M, you too can own this gorgeous aircraft! Problem is, it'd take you another $3-5M to fly the thing...between maintenance, training, fuel and (if you can even get it) insurance. But if a person won the $500M lotto and had $8-10M of chump change lying around, then this would be a real hoot on a fly-in fishing trip with about 100 of your closest friends.

[Boop__Doop]

i want her so bad but i only have around 1200$ and a gaming computer
is that enough?

[memonk]

I’m definitely interested. That is if you agree to zero down, zero percent interest, and a 130 year term.

[TomBrown-ijjk]

Come on Kermit, you need to buy her!🙏

[BigWheelHawaii]

Use To Watch and Listen To The Mars Takingoff From SF, , , I'd Clime The Sea Wall At Alameda, , , You Could Hear Them "4360's All The Way To San Jose Airport...