Philippine Mars final landing at Lake Pleasant" video by Todd Rooker (#FPNF Fediverse presence not found - if you know him, invite him) - Video of safe & successful final landing of #PhilippineMars, the last flying WWII Martin JRM Mars flying boat, at Lake Pleasant AZ today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0U5dQejWG0 #aviation #avgeek

"Phillipine Mars making her final approach at Lake Pleasant" video by Todd Rooker (#FPNF Fediverse presence not found - if you know him, invite him) - Video shows approach by #PhilippineMars, the last flying WWII Martin JRM Mars flying boat, to Lake Pleasant AZ today on it final flight, escorted by multiple planes including the last airworthy WWII Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clD5RDiEAgY #aviation #avgeek

For any #avgeek who wants to review the route #PhilippineMars WWII flying boat took on its last flight from Alameda CA to Lake Pleasant AZ, I entered into SkyVector an approximate route from the C-FLYK and N2871G tracking. Waypoints were just to estimate the spot on the map - I have no info on the crew's intended route since no flight plan was made public. It seemed they followed a combination of coastline, roads and airways. https://skyvector.com/?ll=36.584657605422414,-118.94787597280629&chart=301&zoom=9&fpl=ILATE%203751N12221W%203749N12228W%203746N12232W%203740N12231W%203712N12224W%20KOAR%20TROXX%20AVE%20GRAPE%2050CN%20XBBOX%20BUGBE%20KBNG%20AKIPE%20TRRSH%20FOILD%20DINBE%20MACIS%20TANKZ%203354N11238W%203351N11217W%203353N11217W #aviation #avgeek #pilot #mapgeek #history

It appears Lake Pleasant north of Phoenix was probably the destination. (edit: confirmed) One of the planes that was following the #PhilippineMars showed up again on a FlightAware track and looks like it was in position to get air-to-air photos or video of the landing. (edit: the plane from this track is N2871G, the last airworthy WWII Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer, a Navy variant of the B-24 Liberator.) #aviation #avgeek

#PhilippineMars flying boat has probably reached its destination lake by now. Lack of location reports seems to indicate they managed to escape radar, ADS-B and webcam tracking for the landing at "an undisclosed lake". (ed: it was Lake Pleasant) Good for them pulling that off! I hope someone in the know got good video of the landing and will share it after the veil of secrecy is lifted. Best wishes to their team for successful transport to the Pima Air & Space Museum. #aviation #avgeek

Tracking report from @chris looks like the chase planes which were following #PhilippineMars turned north from Blythe CA along the Colorado River until Parker, then turned east. They're in Arizona, and Mountain Time Zone with 6pm sunset. The turn east may or may not rule out Lake Havasu. It points toward Alamo Lake. It doesn't rule out Lake Pleasant but isn't an efficient route there. But we can't assume they won't try to fake-out the crowds. https://mstdn.chrisalemany.ca/@chris/113982162585413427 #aviation #avgeek #pilot