Martin Mars news and the Philippine Mars restoration plans

[SeptRepair]

So coastal route or lake-hopping ?

W

When the aircraft last flew all 6 fuel tanks in LYK were operational, so in theory it should be able to make the flight direct. There is a lot of work between now and November to get the aircraft fit for a ferry permit.

So coastal route or lake-hopping ?

W

When the aircraft last flew all 6 fuel tanks in LYK were operational, so in theory it should be able to make the flight direct. There is a lot of work between now and November to get the aircraft fit for a ferry permit.

It will be interesting to see whether a non-stop flight will be made or whether there will be an interim stop or two. No doubt a lot of work needs to be done over the next 2 to 3 months to make this ferry flight happen.

In the meantime I look forward to seeing what it will look like with the finished paint job and with engines reattached.

It would be nice if the delivery to Pensacola could be made to coincide with the Airshow at Pensacola in November, to alow the maximum number of folks to see it in the air.

It does rather sound as though the deal has yet to be finalised though.

Mike,

I agree that a flying arrival to coincide with the early November air show at NAS Pensacola would be a nice idea to allow a large number of people to see it fly. But that may be a difficult goal since the air show is so early in November (November 2-3).

I do hope that the arrival will be publicized well enough to allow enthusiasts to plan a trip to the area to be in place for the arrival. This is a big event and deserves to be seen by many.

And it does sound like a pretty final deal to me, the only unknowns perhaps exactly how long it will take to finish the restoration, do some test flying, plan a route, get the necessary ferry permits, etc.

As for myself, I am trying to keep November open as much as I can to hopefully make a trip to the Florida panhandle. Also since I assume this will not be a high altitude flight, it would be nice to know the route so that some who may be on its flight path might get a chance to see the fly over.

[DaveM2]

According to NNMA the deal is not finalized so best not jump the gun..........

Dave

According to NNMA the deal is not finalized so best not jump the gun..........

Dave

Well, I assume if the Naval Aviation Museum really wants it, the deal will happen. In any case I look forward to seeing a Mars in the air some day, somewhere.......

Look forward to hearing news when it becomes available.

[JohnB]

According to NNMA the deal is not finalized so best not jump the gun..........
Dave

Probably trying to reneogotiate the deal...instead of a C-130, they'll offer a R5C.

I can imagine a cigar-chewing CPO on the phone to Canada....
"Hey,buddy, don't you know there's a recession on...you're killin' me. Besides, this sweethart it's a classic....much rarer than an old Herk.
One owner, low miles, only flown on Sundays by Tyrone Power to Saipan."

[The Inspector]

The only thing about this that causes me to take pause is, what happens if it gets loose during a Hurricane? the PB4Y went for quite a stroll before it hit something it couldn't get past and sustained lots of damage in the process and the extraction process. The eventual may or may not be to put it inside, but you don't just open up a bag of 'Instant Hangar' and shake it, and it could be a very long time before or if funds can be herded up for a new building or expansion of an existing one.

[JDK]

Thanks for the insights, folks.

The only thing about this that causes me to take pause is, what happens if it gets loose during a Hurricane?

Probably what happened to the fourth Mars acquired by the FIFT...

on 12 October 1962, the Caroline Mars was destroyed by Typhoon Freda while parked onshore.

As a result, I believe, they come with a set of lift spoilers to be positioned on the wings. Not a total solution, but solves one of the high-winds issues.

Pity to think of this Mars ending it's flying career, but remarkable when you consider it's essentially been working for half the history of human heavier-than-air flight. Hope the other can keep employed!

Regards,

[The Inspector]

I was also considering huge winds that snap around as the eye passes and it's working on the flat, slab sides of the airplane. I've seen high winds push tall maintenance access stands which are esentially empty or in a way, non existant except for platform legs and work decks, go zipping downwind like a HOBIE CAT until they crash into an airplane or fuel truck or building, and standing one up that's blown over is not at all in the 'fun zone', done that too.
We had a 727 in the old nose dock years ago @ TRAMCO @ KPAE and a locally high wind storm started working against the vertical and the aft fuselage side and whipping the front of the airplane back and forth inside the nose dock (ever seen a 727 mimic a rodeo bucking horse in a small space? pretty intimidating ), we got a 3 minute repreve and got a tow bar on it and a tug and pushed it out and turned to face into the wind. If we hadn't ALASKA AIRLINES would have needed to juggle the schedule a bit.

[Cubs]

The only thing about this that causes me to take pause is, what happens if it gets loose during a Hurricane? the PB4Y went for quite a stroll before it hit something it couldn't get past and sustained lots of damage in the process and the extraction process. The eventual may or may not be to put it inside, but you don't just open up a bag of 'Instant Hangar' and shake it, and it could be a very long time before or if funds can be herded up for a new building or expansion of an existing one.

A little inter-service rivalry might speed things up: "but, the Air Force Museum has all their airplanes inside buildings"

[StudeDave]

This is exciting news!!!
Now, if only it (and the rest of the collection) can be protected somehow.

Maybe it's time someone dusted off the plans for one of those BIG blimp hangers...?
(think Tillamook)

[Django]

It's great to see it in Dark Sea Blue!

[WallyB]

(think Tillamook)

Or Moffet Naval Air Station. Getting it there might be a wee bit of a problem.

[The Inspector]

(think Tillamook)

Or Moffet Naval Air Station. Getting it there might be a wee bit of a problem.

AHHHH!.just wet down the grass between the runways and land it there just like real, old timey airplane guys did it in the 40's actually witnessed a G-21 with stuck gear (mostly extended but not over centered and locked with a broken spur gear in the handcrank gearbox busted) land in the wet grass @ Lake Front in N.O. decades ago.

[Red Baaron]

In the Las Vegas airport three or four years ago I had the opportunity to talk to one of the pilots of the Mars. He mentioned the very likely possibility of Kermit Weeks getting one and the Navy Museum getting one. Apparantly the talks were on going then. This guy mentioned looking at lakes in Texas as possible landing/refueling locations. Of course with the drought down there I don't know if any lake in Texas is suitable for landing the Mars. I lived by lake Amistad when I was in Del Rio as a kid. If its half the lake it used to be then its certainly an option.