Chaz Harris wrote:
Whenever I start to wonder about the possibilitiy of getting a C-119 flying, only to run out of engine parts, all I need to remember is two words:
Martin Mars
They are still running the same type of engines, R-3350-24W's, that the Navy did in the 1940's when they were built! All in all, only about 50,000 3350's of all types were made by Curtiss-Wright, most probably for the Constellation. I have googled around and only found 3 aircraft that used that engine (-24W). Three!
Also, only 7 Mars were built, meaning that all parts must be machined as no spares exist. (Which is why Coulson was smart, and has his own machine-shop for the Mars.)
So, as long as someone needs them, and can pay for them, they should be there.
(Also, parts may be hard to find, but most people eventually found those parts, as even though the supply may be low, it still suits the demand. At least most of the time.

)
-Chaz
Chaz,
One quick note on the Mars though, you need to remember that back when that whole thing started, Dan McIvor got not just the 3 Mars', he also got -
35 engines (6 at one purchase, 29 at another)
5,000 spark plugs
Several Cylinder Heads
and (for a measly sum of $3,200)
all of the US Navy's remaining Mars Equipment Inventory, which filled a space that was 20 feet wide, 10 feet high, and 200 feet long.
Coulson
*STILL* hasn't fully used that stock. Then again, they also have 43 filing cabinets that the Navy
gave to FFL that included all of the drawings and templates needed to build new aircraft if required.
