Want Your Own Giant Water Bomber?

The mighty Hawaii Mars flying-boat water bomber, seen here with its sister ship Philippine Mars, splashed down safely on Lake Winnebago on Saturday afternoon and was met by a boat crew that helped it to its mooring at the EAA Seaplane Base. At Theater in the Woods Monday (tonight), July 25, at 8 p.m., the Coulson Aviation team will be presenting on the history of the Martin Mars, the world’s largest warbird. Coulson Flying Tankers Inc. purchased the bomber in 2007 and has used it to fight fires across North America. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Mars’ pilots and crew members will be talking about operating and flying the giant aircraft on Tuesday, July 26, at 3:30-4:45 p.m. at Honda Aircraft Company Forums Building 7. 

The airplane will be flying during the air shows throughout the week — check the times at EAA.org/schedule — and special tour packages are available at EAA.org/martinmars. The tours will last approximately 30 minutes, including the shuttle boat ride from the EAA Seaplane Base, and time aboard the aircraft, including the flight deck. The tours aren’t the only unique opportunity available: representatives from Coulson Flying Tankers, the British Columbia-based company that has been operating these venerable warbirds as fire bombers for the last several years, tell us that both airplanes are currently for sale.