Mars updates?

[lucky52]

For those of you that might be familiar with dismantling a large aircraft, will Pima go in and just cut wire bundles, fuel and oil lines, and control cables or will they preserve those items?

[Pogo]

The Mars makes that PB4Y look like a little toy aeroplane. Good to see that they got her to Arizona safe and sound!

That's what I thought too. I've never seen a Mars in person, but I've been around a Privateer quite a lot, and seeing them together really brings home the size of the Mars - wow!

[phil65]

They should bring it to Oshkosh, one last time...

Phil

[DH82EH]

For those of you that might be familiar with dismantling a large aircraft, will Pima go in and just cut wire bundles, fuel and oil lines, and control cables or will they preserve those items?

Just my opinion.
I think PIMA have some very talented people.
I imagine that disassembly will be as sympathetic as is possible.
Items that get cut would only be because there is no option.
Removing electrical bundles intact is very time consuming.
No doubt they have a plan. This will be a big job.

[bdk]

I’m curious if any of the disassembly is called out in the erection and maintenance manuals along with the shoring requirements to support the aircraft during disassembly?

[JohnB]

I’m curious if any of the disassembly is called out in the erection and maintenance manuals along with the shoring requirements to support the aircraft during disassembly?

Just a guess, I doubt if it was designed to be taken apart.
Being one of the largest aircraft of its time, I can't think of anything large enough to haul most of its assemblies. I've never heard of large aircraft of the period (bombers or C-54s) being shipped.

The only exception I can imagine is if the wings were designed to be removed during overhaul on a seaplane tender. We've all seen photos of wingless PBM Mariners on ships. But unlike the PBM or PBY, I don't see any obvious wing breaks.(A friend has a complete PBY in his hangar, the wing breaks down into pieces).

As I've said before, the hard job might be with the fuselage. I'd hate to see them slice it latitudinally.

I'll guess they've done a route survey where the height of the fuselage won't be an issue if they remove the vertical stabilizer.
Luckily, they're going from to middle of nowhere to the southern suburbs of Tucson... which isn't the middle of nowhere, but you can see it from there.

[Hooligan2]

I don't know the area at all but it's hard to imagine American roads near suburbia without overhead obstructions of some sort - bridges, cables, etc, etc...

I wonder if the fuselage could be laid on its side on a transporter and go as an extra wide load - might fit under overpasses that way? (No idea what the fuselage dimensions are)

As mentioned before, Duxford's Sunderland was split longitudinally to get it on a Cross Channel Ferry when they recovered it from France, then welded back together with a strengthening strap. Not ideal.

Whatever they have planned, I'm glad it's not my logistical headache! I wish them simplicity and benevolent traffic cops... and look forward to seeing it at Pima when I finally make my long threatened pilgrimage there..

[sandiego89]

I note some construction photos of the Mars fuselages being built without wings, and being wheeled outside without wings on the beaching gear. I imagine these assembly breaks will be used.

This link shows the Marshall Mars being towed outside the assembly hangar.

https://www.destinationsjourney.com/his ... hall-mars/

[JohnB]

I don't know the area at all but it's hard to imagine American roads near suburbia without overhead obstructions of some sort - bridges, cables, etc, etc...

I wonder if the fuselage could be laid on its side on a transporter and go as an extra wide load - might fit under overpasses that way? (No idea what the fuselage dimensions are)

Normally, I'd agree, but having lived in the area during grad school, driving in some rural areas, and most importantly, after looking at the map, they might be in luck. The route SE from the lake seems to be pretty open. We are talking open desert, not suburbia. I don't know about the wires.

They can go most of the way on state roads, avoiding the Interstate hiway (dual carriage motorway in UK) until they approach Tucson. Even then, they might be able to avoid it by approaching the museum from the west or southwest. Unless it has changed a lot since my last visit a few years back, it's still pretty open out there.

[JohnB]

I don't know the area at all but it's hard to imagine American roads near suburbia without overhead obstructions of some sort - bridges, cables, etc, etc...

Normally, I'd agree, but having lived in the area during grad school, driving in some rural areas, and most importantly, after looking at the map, they might be in luck. The route SE from the lake seems to be pretty open. We are talking open desert, not suburbia. I don't know about the wires.

They can go most of the way on state roads, avoiding the Interstate hiway (dual carriage motorway in UK) until they approach Tucson. Even then, they might be able to avoid it by approaching the museum from the west or southwest. Unless it has changed a lot since my last visit a few years back, it's still pretty open out there.

[Mark Sampson]

I live in Tucson, about five miles from the Pima museum, and I'll just say that they have a massive effort in front of them. For one thing, they will have to transit metro Phoenix somehow, never an appealing prospect in any vehicle.
But the museum is large and well-funded, and seems to have very good people working there; and I'm sure they've identified a way to move the Mars. I'll be following their efforts.
My dream scenario would be to dig a long trench, 300' wide and as long as necessary, parallel to the runway at D-M. Then use the Mars to fill it from the air, and for a final act, put the plane down on it and taxi up to the museum. Dream on!

[JohnB]

My assumption is they'll avoid Phoenix by heading west, then South.
Or, they might be stocking up on Skil Saw blades at Home Depot....unless they have a Martin manual on how to take it apart like so many Legos.

Has Pima said anything publicly yet on their plans?
Seems to me they would try to generate some publicity. Seems like a good story, dragging a huge seaplane across the desert.

[mdwflyer]

There won't be a Mars if that guy keeps doing what he's doing. Inside the airplane, standing on a 11,000 gallon fuel tank with a grinder. Can you say Kaboom! Sorry for the Facebook link, don't know how to upload pics. Anybody with proper connections to PIMA should get this stopped.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2053246981771840&set=pcb.9541878882500379

[Cubs2jets]

It looks like when the wing center section is removed, a supporting structure will need to be fabricated to support the fore and aft fuselage. No matter how they do it, it will be a substantial undertaking. Good lick to Pima!

C2j

[Stoney]

they moved the goose from the Colombia to McMinnville by road, so it can be done.