Thousands of people gathered on the shoreline of North Saanich含羞草研究社檚 Patricia Bay for the Hawaii Martin Mars含羞草研究社� last landing on the night of Aug. 11.
Among them were Martin and Kristine Van Zyl, along with their young son Sebastian. The event held strong symbolic significance for the couple hailing from Port Alberni, the longtime home of the red-and-white aircraft.
含羞草研究社淚 actually grew up on Sproat Lake and so that was the view outside of my house, the water bomber, every morning. This was kind of full circle for me seeing it come to land for the last time,含羞草研究社� said Martin.
含羞草研究社淥ur parents were on Sproat Lake watching it take off earlier today and now we got to see it land,含羞草研究社� added Kristine. 含羞草研究社淚t was such a great end cap to such a beautiful part of history that we grew up with. It's just a landmark for our town.含羞草研究社�
Equally symbolic for Rick Smerch, a former airplane mechanic at Coulson Aviation, seeing it fly one last time was an event he couldn含羞草研究社檛 miss.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 history,含羞草研究社� said Smerch. 含羞草研究社淚t's the biggest water bomber in the world. I haven含羞草研究社檛 worked on that one, but I've seen it sitting in the yard for years, so to see it fly is pretty awesome.含羞草研究社�
For tourists Marti Grudes and Fred Craft, visiting from Eugene, Ore., this event was an unexpected delight.
含羞草研究社淚t was fantastic,含羞草研究社� said Crafts. 含羞草研究社淲e didn't know what to expect and to see this enormous plane fly over with all the jets was just spectacular. Not only was this a historic moment but it seems like this was a community moment. All these people showed up and were cheering for this antique airplane. It was a spectacular moment.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e were fortunate to have a gentleman sit down next to us who has worked with that specific plane,含羞草研究社� added Gurdes. 含羞草研究社淗e knows the Mars, he has walked on its wings because he was a forester. We had an hour and a half of listening to him, tell us about working with the plane. We feel like we've had an enormous history (lesson about) this aircraft.含羞草研究社�
History enthusiast Graham Johnson left his hometown of Ladner specifically to attend the event.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 such a historic moment,含羞草研究社� said Johnson. 含羞草研究社淚t was too bad that they couldn't make it run longer, but this was a fitting goodbye at least. I didn't realize there would be so many people here, but it's the kind of human event that everybody comes together to witness.含羞草研究社�
For more information about the Hawaii Martin Mars, visit the British Columbia Aviation Museum website at .
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