Flying Boat Extraordinaire – The Famed Martin Mars Seaplane’s Final Flight

Heavy Lift Prowess and Firefighting Excellence

The legendary four-engine Martin Mars fixed-wing seaplane, originally conceived and manufactured in the later part of the 1940s, reserves a unique place in aviation history. The aircraft was inspired and created by the Martin Aircraft Company, later named Lockheed Martin, as a large mission-capable flying boat. Its core objective in the beginning was to serve as a transport airplane for the U.S. military during World War II. The Martin Mars was intended as a long-haul, heavy-lift amphibious airplane capable of transporting large and bulky cargo loads.

World War II

The Mars amphibious plane was vital to the war effort of World War II, with its remarkable capability of effectively transporting equipment and troops. The first in-flight testing of the prototype, designated the XPB2M-1 Mars, occurred in July of 1942. The aircraft was developed by the U.S. Navy to bolster its heavy-lift air transport resources. The aircraft featured, for its day, a huge wingspan of 200 feet with the objective of carrying upwards of 132 troops or 20 tons of bulk-form cargo.

Transport and Reconnaissance

The Martin Mars was initially deployed for military transport purposes and reconnaissance work; however, the aircraft’s most iconic role would later become firefighting. During its earlier days in service, just a handful were made. Subsequently, the military ultimately shifted its focus to other aircraft as aviation technologies quickly evolved and progressed. The last of the Mars aircraft in active military service was retired in the 1950s, but its legacy sill endures to this day.

Mission and Stated Purpose

The Martin Mars had a “second wind” of life after early military service. Indeed, the 1960s witnessed the aircraft becoming repurposed for fighting fires, particularly in the thick forests of Canada. The Mars’s substantial cargo load capacity made it perfectly suited for lifting water or retardant chemicals to combat wildfires. This transformation to primarily a firefighting aircraft resulted in it being operated largely by civilian companies.

The Cavernous 8,000-Gallon Water Tank

With its cavernous 8,000-gallon water tank, the Martin Mars became a strategic asset in attacking massive out-of-control wildfires. The aircraft’s large footprint and amphibious design enabled it to operate on both land and water, giving it the ability to reach locations inaccessible to ground-based firefighting teams. Its function became virtually indispensable during severe wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest and other regions where widespread, large-scale fires are common.

Current State of the Aircraft

As of this writing, only a handful of Martin Mars aircraft remain in existence, with almost all of them having been retired. The few remaining “flight ready” and operationally able aircraft were in recent years with Hawaii Mars, an aerial firefighting company owned by Mars Aviation and based in Canada. However, in last few years, the expense of maintaining the aging and outdated aircraft type resulted in its inevitable 2019 retirement from service.

Protecting Lives and the Environment

The Martin Mars is a perfect example of how innovative military design and engineering, after finding a niche in cargo transport, morphed into the vital and important role of protecting lives and the environment. While the aircraft may no longer be actively flying, it remains a true testament to the clever ingenuity of aircraft design and manufacturing during the post-war aviation era.

The Martin Mars Today

Today, this intriguing aircraft is still making the news. In fact, on 9 February 2025, the renowned heavy-lift transport bird (the last and only remaining airworthy Martin Mars) landed in San Francisco Bay. The reason for the flight was to relocate the flying boat to its final home at the Pima Air and Space Museum located in Tucson, Arizona. Through the leadership of Todd Davis, the renowned and revered aircraft made the trip to San Francisco perfectly and without a hitch.

US Navy Airline Shuttle

Back in the day, during its Navy service, the airplane made countless flights in and out of the Bay area. It was also busy at the time doing large numbers of regularly scheduled flights to and from Hawaii as a US Navy airline shuttle. Note that this recent celebratory event brought out several noteworthy people and organizations, including the popular online and print aviation magazine Air Classics.

Martin Mars Performance Data

Overall Length: 118 feet 6 inches

Total Wingspan: 200 feet

Max Takeoff Weight: 230,000 pounds

Average Cruising Speed: 180 mph

Maximum Range: 2,000 miles

Max Cargo Transport Payload: 20 tons

Firefighting Water Tank Capacity: Approximately 7,600 gallons

About the Firefighting Aerial Fleet

Modern heavy-lift aircraft play an important and vital role in minimizing the damage and destruction caused by large raging wildfires. This is due largely in part to their speed, maneuverability, mission flexibility, and potential to cover vast areas quickly and efficiently. Helicopters and heavy-lift fixed-wing airplanes are particularly useful in this effort, allowing firefighters to gain access to areas that may be inaccessible by firefighting ground crews.

Thousands of Gallons

While there are many methods, one of the primary ways aircraft like the Mars assist in fighting fast spreading wildfires is by dropping fire retardant or water on the flames. Large air tankers, such as the DC-10 or C-130, can haul tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant and water, which helps to arrest the spread of flames and hot embers, effectively creating a barrier or fire line.

Precise Aerial Drops

The most common types of retardants are typically a mixture of water, fertilizers, and other chemicals that serve to suppress flames, stopping fires from reigniting and spreading. Conversely, helicopters can deliver far more precise aerial drops, often utilizing bucket systems to scoop up water from nearby waterways, lakes, or rivers.

Advanced Infrared Technology

Aircraft used to fight fires also provide valuable aerial surveillance, offering firefighting teams the ability to better determine a fire’s size, movement, and burn behavior in real-time. This information is necessary for making strategic decisions, such as where to focus ground efforts or which areas need air support. Aircraft armed with advanced infrared technology can identify hot spots that may not be seen from the ground, guiding firefighters to areas of high risk.

Click here for a video tour of the 80-year-old Martin Mars seaplane.