Coulson Aviation looks for new home for Hawaii Mars, inactive in firefighting since 2015

An historic piece of British Columbia’s firefighting history has been put up for sale.

The iconic red-and-white Hawaii Mars waterbomber has been listed for $5 million by Platinum Fighter Sales, an international sales group of vintage aircraft.

“The opportunity to purchase and preserve a unique part of aviation history is now available for the discerning buyer, or donor,” Platinum Fighter Sales advertises on its website.

The Hawaii Mars was one of five Martin Mars aircraft originally conceived as military bombers in the United States during the Second World War. It started service in 1945 as a transport aircraft for the United States Navy.

It was later purchased by a consortium of timber companies in British Columbia and converted to a water bomber to protect the timber lands on Vancouver Island. In 2006, it was sold to Coulson Aviation.

Read the full story: Alberni Valley News