Monday, April 11, 2005

 

Martin Mars!! Steve's Favourite Flying Boat of all Time!!

Glenn L. Martin was a great aircraft designer, and his imagination and skills sure came through in the Martin Mars. Originally conceived as a bomber for long range missions and patrols, the production aircraft were redesigned and classified for long-range general transport because of the demonstrated heavy-lift capability of the prototype. There were a total of 7 of these behemoths built. The original, the "Old Lady", then the first "Hawaii Mars", lost in an accident in Chesapeake Bay on 5 August 1945, and then 5 more: the "Philippine Mars", the "Marianas Mars", the "Marshall Mars", a second "Hawaii Mars", and the single JRM-2, the "Caroline Mars". The "Marshall Mars" was lost on 5 May 1950, off Diamond Head in Hawaii. The remaining "Big Four" were retired in 1956, and sold for scrap in 1959. End of story? I don't think so. A British Columbia water-bomber pilot named Dan McIvor had a great vision.

McIvor acquired all 4 aircraft for $100,000, and they were flown to B.C.. The "Caroline Mars" was pressed into service for training, while the "Marianas Mars" was being converted into a water bomber. The "Marianas Mars" was wrecked while battling a fire, and "Caroline Mars" was destroyed in a storm. That left the "Philippine Mars" and the "Hawaii Mars". They were both converted to water-bombers and entered service in 1963, and remain in service to this day operating from Sproat Lake, B.C.!!! Absolutely amazing!

History Of The "Martin Mars"

"Martin Mars" Origins

Flying Tankers Inc. Web-Site

Beautiful Photos of the 2 remaining "Martin Mars"

Martin Mars 1

Martin Mars 2

Martin Mars 3 (bombing)

Martin Mars 4 (both of them!)

Martin Mars 5 (bombing)

Martin Mars 6 (bombing)

More Google Martin Mars Images

Martin Mars Video 1

Martin Mars Video 2

Martin Mars Video 3

I don't think Glenn L. Martin envisioned what the future would hold for his Mars Flying Boats, but I am sure he would be proud!! I can just imagine the sound on take off of 4 radial piston engines producing 10,000 HP!!

Specifications

Manufacturer: Glenn L. Martin Company

Powerplant: Four Wright Cyclone R3350-24WA
engines @ 2500h.p. each (1865 kw)

Curtiss Electric 4-blade propellers with a
blade diameter of 15 ft. 2 in. (5 m)
(Inner props are reversible)

Overall Length: 120 ft. (36m)

Height: 48 ft. (14.63 m)

Hull Beam: 13.5 ft. (4.12 m)

Hull Draft: 5.5 ft. (1.68 m)

Wing Span: 200 ft. (61 m)

Gross Weight: 162,000 lbs. (73,483 kg)

Water/Foam Load: 60,000 lbs. (27,216 kg)

Cruising Speed to Fire: 190 mph (305 kmh)

Drop Speed: 138 mph (220 kmh)

Landing Approach Speed: 115 mph (185 kmh)

Touchdown Speed: 92 mph (148 kmh)

Fuel Consumption (Cruise): 420 US gal/h (1590 lph)

Fuel Consumption (Operations): 780 US gal/h (2,955 lph)

Fuel Capacity

Hawaii Mars: 6,485 US gal (24,550 Litres)

Philippine Mars: 13,200 US gal (49,962 Litres)

Operations Duration (normal): 5 1/2 hours

Area Covered, single drop: 3 to 4 acres (1.2 to 1.6 ha)

Drop Height: 150 to 200 ft. (45m to 61m)

Full Tank Load: 7,200 US gal (27,276 Litres)

# posted by Steve @ 9:08 AM
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