MARS

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Aug 09, 2021 12:09 pm

sandiego89 wrote:

Mick G wrote:

Curious, are there any 4360s in operation anywhere today?

...Imagine the C-119's were the last multi-engine 4360's to fly...

Honestly not knowing when the last C-119 was airborne, I'm going to suggest that perhaps the last multi-4360 flight was BAHF's C-97 in June 2019 (when #2 ate itself).

I applaud them for the extra effort in moving forward with the C-54, but is there a chance some progress has also been made with the C-97?

(As I drift further and further from the thread topic...)

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1199

Dan K wrote:

.....Honestly not knowing when the last C-119 was airborne, I'm going to suggest that perhaps the last multi-4360 flight was BAHF's C-97 in June 2019 (when #2 ate itself)......

Yes I forgot about the C-97. Guess the Alaska C-119's would be the last multi 4360's to earn some type of living and be flown once in a while. The BAHF C-97 only made a handful of flights correct?

Any C-119's overseas/anywhere that may have flown more recently?

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:39 am

'Race 57' flew as recently as last fall.

https://www.facebook.com/DocsFriends/ph ... 2958694808

It's a real shame the deal for the Mars to go to Pensacola fell through. It would have been an appropriate place for it. Unfortunately, the list of places that can take delivery of a Mars is short.

Hooligan2 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:36 am

With all the rain Britain has experienced recently, Duxford (Ducksford?) could have been a contender!

I wish they could be kept flying - I'd love to see one. There was a wonderful UK TV series a decade or two back in which one episode featured the Mars and an interview with one of the guys who originally got them into the fire fighting business - as one did a demo drop for the cameras he said "that's really something to see isn't it" Oh yes!

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:46 am

sandiego89 wrote:

Dan K wrote:

.....Honestly not knowing when the last C-119 was airborne, I'm going to suggest that perhaps the last multi-4360 flight was BAHF's C-97 in June 2019 (when #2 ate itself)......

Yes I forgot about the C-97. Guess the Alaska C-119's would be the last multi 4360's to earn some type of living and be flown once in a while. The BAHF C-97 only made a handful of flights correct?

Any C-119's overseas/anywhere that may have flown more recently?

As far as I know, all flyable 119s have turbo-compound 3350s on them, I know the Flight of the Phoenix 119 has 3350s.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Matt Gunsch wrote:

...all flyable 119s...

Are there any currently flying?

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 12:21 pm

sandiego89 wrote:

lucky52 wrote:

That would be good for the BAHF C-97,if the engines are a match.

Not a match Lucky, the C-97 uses R-4360-59B, the Mars uses the 3350.

Hope some 4360 engines come out the fleet sitting derelict at Greybull.

Actually the Caroline Mars did use R4360s. It never got to show its stuff as it was destroyed by typhoon Freda in the '50s before it got a chance to work as a tanker. Yes, Hawaii and Philippine Mars both use R3350-24s.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:30 pm

Mike wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

...all flyable 119s...

Are there any currently flying?

if there is, it would be in Alaska. The Flight of the Phoenix C-119 could fly again, but it is looking sad. It was in great shape when I flew it to Glendale AZ from Greybull, WY.

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:50 pm

marine air wrote:

Maybe even study the feasibilty of replacing the R-3350's with turboprops. With jet fuel they could be available for worldwide service. Look at all the C-47s have been re-engined and are being used for commercial hire worldwide. The B-52's are going to be around forever, why not a couple of Mars?

Even operating them under Restricted or Limited licenses, the engineering and paperwork necessary to convert them to turbines would be staggering.
Simply not worth it for two airframes.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:56 pm

Since Pima seems to be the default answer for so many rare but hard-to-place aircraft, what's the closest body of water the Mars could be flown to before being dismantled for road transport there?

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:53 pm

The Gulf of California?

I lived in the Phoenix area but I've been to Tucson many times, but I don't think there are lot of large bodies of water around there.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:10 am

Chris Brame wrote:

Since Pima seems to be the default answer for so many rare but hard-to-place aircraft, what's the closest body of water the Mars could be flown to before being dismantled for road transport there?

Roosevelt Lake east of Phoenix is one of the states largest lakes, Lake Pleasant NW of Phoenix is a holding lake for water from the Colorado, so it is large enough as well. I would go with Lake Pleasant, it has better freeway access.

JohnB · **Posted:** Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:14 pm

Can someone do the stress analysis?

If you were serious about getting it to Pima, how about landing it on grass...or even a well-foamed runway at D-M?
Strip it down, use minimal fuel. Land at Lake TR and defuel if need be.

I have heard tales of Amphibs landing gear up with no damage...except maybe shaving a 1/4 inch off the keel.
Since it wouldn't fly again, not much to loose structure wise...and arguably better for it than dismantling it at a remote (non-equipped) site and breaking it down into small enough pieces for road transport journey of 140 miles.

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2021 12:24 pm

Lot's of photo's and footage of Amphib's landing on ice and snow.
Now if you could get enough snow - in Tucson - to pack a runway......

phil65 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2021 2:30 pm

How about sand ?

Phil

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