Martin Mars news and the Philippine Mars restoration plans

[Timelapse]

All staff have been let go with the exception of the Director of Maintenance ( who is also the flight engineer) and a helper. So for even a ferry permit to fly one way, the aircraft will require a substantial amount of work for the remaining two people.

How do you know this,Any news link or something.Please reply,Thanks Man

[Timelapse]

All staff have been let go with the exception of the Director of Maintenance ( who is also the flight engineer) and a helper. So for even a ferry permit to fly one way, the aircraft will require a substantial amount of work for the remaining two people.

Any link with that info,Please reply,Thanks
Here is a video of the Hawaii Mars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEUrjRKiEic

[SeptRepair]

No link or anything. I know all the people who work there and that is what they told me. Last person to leave is to turn out the light.

[JohnB]

Didn't they recently unveil a C-130 fire bomber?
Was the airframe (but obviously note the mods) a trade for the Mars?

If so, can we assume they got "paid" but haven't delivered the Martin?

[SeptRepair]

No that C-130 they recently acquired and fitted for fire fighting had nothing to do with the Mars deal. The deal with Pensacola, I think is for surplus C-130 stuff and for a different retired C-130 *cough* Fat Albert *cough*. But that's speculation on my part. There is a news article by the owner explaining the delays posted earlier in this thread.
So JohnB your assumption is completely false. If anything, in good faith, the Coulson Group spent a very large sum of money paint stripping and then repainting the aircraft in the Naval blue colors as requested by the museum in anticipation of a deal being made. So it is safer to assume the museum strung along the Coulson Group, and then used the Government as an excuse why they couldn't make a deal happen. Of course like anything, there is probably more to the story then we all know.

[Timelapse]

No that C-130 they recently acquired and fitted for fire fighting had nothing to do with the Mars deal. The deal with Pensacola, I think is for surplus C-130 stuff and for a different retired C-130 *cough* Fat Albert *cough*. But that's speculation on my part. There is a news article by the owner explaining the delays posted earlier in this thread.
So JohnB your assumption is completely false. If anything, in good faith, the Coulson Group spent a very large sum of money paint stripping and then repainting the aircraft in the Naval blue colors as requested by the museum in anticipation of a deal being made. So it is safer to assume the museum strung along the Coulson Group, and then used the Government as an excuse why they couldn't make a deal happen. Of course like anything, there is probably more to the story then we all know.

I read on another forum that everybody has been laid off at the Martin Mars base in Port Alberni,I think this is true, but has not made the news yet.We will soon find out. Here is one of my videos I filmed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbCrGbai1UE

[Rogue]

So now what?

[SeptRepair]

So now what? Well I guess we all sit back and wait to see if Pensacola and the US Government can come to some sort of agreement to allow a trade of assets for the Philippine Mars. I guess it boils done to what are the value of assets that were slated to be traded and what is the real value of the aircraft. Whats the Mars worth?? How do you appraise a one of two that isnt economically viable to keep flying on a continual basis for a private collector. Whats the Sunderland worth that Kermit Weeks owns?

Finally some news on the Philippine Mars! Looks like there is some hope that we may finally see it ready to make a ferry flight to Pensacola sometime this summer. Hope we can get updates on this - it would be terrific to see the Mars fly into Florida.

http://www.coulsongroup.com/news.html

[Warbirdnerd]

Finally some news on the Philippine Mars! Looks like there is some hope that we may finally see it ready to make a ferry flight to Pensacola sometime this summer. Hope we can get updates on this - it would be terrific to see the Mars fly into Florida.

http://www.coulsongroup.com/news.html

Pensacola is releasing a Hellcat as part of this trade? WOW! Hopefully it can be made airworthy!

[Dan K]

Finally some news on the Philippine Mars! Looks like there is some hope that we may finally see it ready to make a ferry flight to Pensacola sometime this summer. Hope we can get updates on this - it would be terrific to see the Mars fly into Florida.

http://www.coulsongroup.com/news.html

Pensacola is releasing a Hellcat as part of this trade? WOW! Hopefully it can be made airworthy!

Big news. But some might consider a trade of the Rex even more significant!

This is truly amazing news. Thanks for the link, Jim.

[Mark Allen M]

Well that cat's finally out of the bag. Now for the next bit of big news out of Pensacola

[Warbirdnerd]

Finally some news on the Philippine Mars! Looks like there is some hope that we may finally see it ready to make a ferry flight to Pensacola sometime this summer. Hope we can get updates on this - it would be terrific to see the Mars fly into Florida.

http://www.coulsongroup.com/news.html

Pensacola is releasing a Hellcat as part of this trade? WOW! Hopefully it can be made airworthy!

Big news. But some might consider a trade of the Rex even more significant!

This is truly amazing news. Thanks for the link, Jim.

Meh~
Chances are the Rex stays ground bound. The prospect of another airworthy F6F is much more exciting...

[old iron]

I would guess that the Rex will ultimately be sold to the Japanese. Interesting that the NMNA would deaccess such a rare aircraft.

[Dan K]

Bryan,

Meh? (Seriously?)

My response was not so much over whether F6F or Rex (or both; or neither) are restored to airworthy, but that the Rex in particular receives the TLC it is due. I'm assuming you've seen the deplorable shape it is in, and I don't believe Pensacola had any intention of restoring it in the foreseeable future--if ever.

Old Iron questions why Pensacola would let such a rare aircraft go. For those that have seen her recently, the evidence suggests "apathy" is the answer.