Martin Mars news and the Philippine Mars restoration plans

I was wondering if anyone had any new information on the Mars and the plan to bring it to Pensacola in November (hopefully)?

And it would be great to see some photos of the completed return to the original Navy dark blue paint scheme (assuming it has been finished).

[Timelapse]

Check your personal messages

[StangStung]

^^ He's not the only one who cares!

[JFS61]

^^ He's not the only one who cares!

Yeah!

[TimAPNY]

I'm really hoping that I can make it down for the arrival of the Mars. So please keep us up to date.

Tim

[JFS61]

Guess we're not going to find out after all.

[andyman64]

as much as i love wix you guys re pretty damned criptic at times!

Information I have seen in other forums suggests that the Philippine Mars may take longer to get ready for its first flight than originally projected.

November this year appears to be definitely out and sometime in the first half of 2013 (Spring time period perhaps?) seems to be more likely to test fly the Mars and get it ready for ferrying to Pensacola. Hopefully we will gradually get some more definitive information over the next few months so we can get an idea of when to expect the arrival.

[Chappie]

It will be very sad to see it converted to a static "dead" airplane sitting outside , of course.

Sigh. Yes it will. Yes it will.


Chappie

It will be very sad to see it converted to a static "dead" airplane sitting outside , of course.

Sigh. Yes it will. Yes it will.

Chappie

That is true. But this particular Mars has not flown for over 5 years and perhaps without this planned ferry flight to Florida it may conceivably never have flown again.

Hopefully the Hawaii Mars will continue as a working fire bomber for some time.

[M.P.]

Any actual pictures of the blue painted Mars available? Found only this done some weeks ago on September 5th:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanair/79 ... 560864760/

That's the last published photo that I am aware of, also. You would think being almost 2 months ago that the repainting would be complete by now.

Of course I wonder if they will completely repaint it before it flies (national insignia, lettering, numbers, etc.) or if that will done after it arrives at Pensacola.

Look forward to updates when they are available.

[Chappie]

Information I have seen in other forums suggests that the Philippine Mars may take longer to get ready for its first flight than originally projected.

November this year appears to be definitely out and sometime in the first half of 2013 (Spring time period perhaps?) seems to be more likely to test fly the Mars and get it ready for ferrying to Pensacola. Hopefully we will gradually get some more definitive information over the next few months so we can get an idea of when to expect the arrival.

Jim- What other forums are you looking at? I'd like to see them too.


Chappie

Chappie,

Over on Fence Check, someone commented on October 19 that they spoke with someone at the Naval Aviation Museum who said that a date in 2013 was more likely for the arrival at Pensacola.

http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index. ... 12.45.html

[SeptRepair]

It is all blue now. I can post a pic later. It will be leaving next spring from what I have heard, and they want to fly it down the west coast and then shoot over to Florida from there. Since it wont be a direct flight a ferry permit is out of the equation, and therefor it will need a proper annual. It makes sense, as I'm sure a lot of people would like to go on its final flights.