Publié le :
07 February 2025
Catégorie : Actualité
On December 11, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, Western Star had the honor of taking part in an extraordinary event: transporting a true piece of aviation history to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria, British Columbia.
The Martin Mars: a giant of the skies in service of history
The Martin Mars bomber, once the largest aircraft in the world and comparable in size to a Boeing 747, was originally designed for the U.S. military. Of the seven aircraft built, this airborne giant served during World War II before being retired from military service after just six years. In the 1960s, the planes were converted into water bombers and went on to play a critical role in fighting wildfires.
An extraordinary transport made possible by Western Star and Nickel Bros
Coulson Aviation entrusted this historic transport to Nickel Bros, a company based in Nanaimo. The mission: move the iconic 120-foot-long (approximately 37-meter) aircraft from Victoria Airport to the British Columbia Aviation Museum, where it would become part of a permanent exhibit commemorating 50 years of contributions to wildfire suppression in Canada.
To accomplish this unique task, Nickel Bros relied on a Western Star 4900SF truck, specifically configured for heavy hauling. Alex Martin-Banzer, Director of Marketing and Communications for Western Star, stated:
“It’s not every day you can say you helped make history. With a 200-foot wingspan and an empty weight of 76,000 pounds, this aircraft represents an incredible engineering achievement. We are honored to have provided a truck capable of carefully guiding this remarkable aircraft to its final home.”
Tim Nickel of Nickel Brothers Moving shared technical details of the impressive operation:
“Because the Martin Mars can only land on water, we first had to carry out a complex maritime operation to bring the aircraft to land. We then modified our truck to support the weight by adding two additional axles with eight tires to meet the load requirements. The aircraft was also secured at multiple points to preserve the integrity of the fuselage and ensure stability during transport.”
A remarkable journey: from the airport to the museum
The aircraft was loaded onto a pivoting trailer, positioned approximately two meters above the ground, before traveling the two miles (3.2 kilometers) separating it from the museum. The route, which included active runways at Victoria Airport, left little room for error.
“In some places, we passed fences and poles with only one or two inches of clearance,” said Tim Nickel. “Even though spectators were nervous, for our team, it was just another day at the office.”
The Martin Mars: a wildfire-fighting legend
For 60 years, these water bombers battled wildfires along the West Coast, from California to British Columbia. Their 7,200-gallon (approximately 27,000-liter) tanks could be filled in just 22 seconds using retractable scoops, before releasing 37 tons of water over an area of up to four acres (1.6 hectares).
However, in recent years, these giants have been used less frequently, replaced by smaller and more agile aircraft. Today, only two Martin Mars aircraft remain. One of them, the Hawaii Mars, made its final flight in August 2024, escorted by Canada’s military aerobatic team, the Snowbirds. This last journey, from Sproat Lake near Port Alberni to Victoria Airport, marked the end of an era before its permanent installation at the aviation museum.
An invitation to discover this giant at the museum
The Hawaii Mars is now on display in a permanent exhibit at the British Columbia Aviation Museum, where it stands as a powerful testament to its exceptional role in aviation history and wildfire suppression.
To learn more about the exhibit dedicated to the Hawaii Mars, visit the BC Aviation Museum website.