Iconic B.C. wildfire water bomber for sale for $5M
The pride of the skies above central Vancouver Island could soon be soaring towards the highest bidder.
A Martin Mars water bomber known as the Hawaii Mars II has been put up for sale for $5 million.
The Second World War-era plane was retrofitted from its role as a U.S navy patrol bomber into a water bomber in the 1960s.
Two of the bombers – the Hawaii II and the Philippine Mars – are owned by the Coulson Aviation Group in Port Alberni, B.C.
According to the company, the Philippine Mars is not air-ready and will likely end up in a museum.
The cockpit of the Hawaii II water bomber. (Platinum Fighters)
The Hawaii II is being sold through Platinum Fighter Sales out of California.
The Hawaii II water bomber is being sold through Platinum Fighter Sales out of California. (Platinum Fighters)
"Today, Hawaii Mars II remains the only airworthy example of its type in the world," Platinum wrote in an online sales description.
"The opportunity to purchase and preserve a unique part of aviation history is now available for the discerning buyer, or donor."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.