Thousands of people gathered on the shoreline of North Saanich香蕉视频直播檚 Patricia Bay for the Hawaii Martin Mars香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� said Martin. 

香蕉视频直播淥ur parents were on Sproat Lake watching it take off earlier today and now we got to see it land,香蕉视频直播� added Kristine. 香蕉视频直播淚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.香蕉视频直播�

Equally symbolic for Rick Smerch, a former airplane mechanic at Coulson Aviation, seeing it fly one last time was an event he couldn香蕉视频直播檛 miss. 

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 history,香蕉视频直播� said Smerch. 香蕉视频直播淚t's the biggest water bomber in the world. I haven香蕉视频直播檛 worked on that one, but I've seen it sitting in the yard for years, so to see it fly is pretty awesome.香蕉视频直播�

For tourists Marti Grudes and Fred Craft, visiting from Eugene, Ore., this event was an unexpected delight.

香蕉视频直播淚t was fantastic,香蕉视频直播� said Crafts. 香蕉视频直播淲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.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e were fortunate to have a gentleman sit down next to us who has worked with that specific plane,香蕉视频直播� added Gurdes. 香蕉视频直播淗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.香蕉视频直播�

History enthusiast Graham Johnson left his hometown of Ladner specifically to attend the event.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 such a historic moment,香蕉视频直播� said Johnson. 香蕉视频直播淚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.香蕉视频直播�

For more information about the Hawaii Martin Mars, visit the British Columbia Aviation Museum website at .

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