Philippine Mars waterbomber in Cowichan Bay for repairs [Video]

The Philippine Mars waterbomber has finally left North Saanich’s Patricia Bay, but it hasn’t travelled very far. On Monday, it was towed across the Saanich Inlet to Cowichan Bay for some much-needed repairs.

Dave Strand – who spent an entire day in the summer of 2005 watching the Philippine and its sister waterbomber, the Hawaii Mars, fight an out of control wildfire near Cowichan Lake – came to visit with an old acquaintance.

“I’ve seen them working in the bush in the past; it was incredible,” said Strand. “I was getting wet on every dump.”

That’s how close he was to the action.

The answer as to why the Philippine was towed to Cowichan Bay lies back in North Saanich at the BC Aviation Museum.

“We are an organ donor to get the Philippine Mars flying,” said Steve Nichol, the museum’s president.

In December, the Philippine departed Port Alberni’s Sproat Lake heading towards its final destination and new …