Warbird Information Exchange

Since we've got fires burning all around, unfortunately, a Martin Mars is coming to my area. I guess I should try to get some pics/video, eh?
As far as I know, I've never seen one of these in person; should be quite a sight.


http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jun/27 ... nst-north/

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Dave

Take a lot of photos. The MARS is special to me. My father was involved with building the MARS at the Glenn L. Martin facility near Baltimore.
I was at the Martin museum recently and they were attempting to get one of three remaining aircraft for their museum.
Chief

Chief,

My Dad was also involved with the Mars at the Glenn L. Martin Co. in Baltimore. He was an engineering draftsman and did a lot of the full-size lofts for the Mars. As they were in production, he went aboard the aircraft and documented changes necessary to the drawings.

I went to see the two remaining Mars aircraft (yes, there are only two left) at Sproat Lake in BC in May of 2004, and was taken aboard by one of the pilots. I spent about an hour on board, swapping tales and getting aquainted with the Mars and her firefighting systems.

It was very moving to see places where my Dad probably had walked more than 60 years before (he passed away in 2002).

Walt

Mars still hasn't showed up:

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jun/28 ... yed-again/

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Dave

Walt,
My dad told a lot of stories of his adventures working on the Mars. Most memorable was the day he was climbing down inside one with a heavy tool box in his right hand and his ring on his left hand became caught on a stringer. He would have had to drop the tool box to get his ring finger free. But, he was afraid the tool box would damage the aircraft belly. He said he was hanging there in pain, by his ring finger, for a period of time. Finally a fellow mechanic came into the Mars, saw his problem and took his tool box out of my dad's right hand and helped him down. The ring was bent and his finger severly cut. He never wore a ring for the rest of his life.

Also, I can understand the engine problem. Especially with all the R-3350 engine problems we have had with FIFI over the past few years.

John

It's here; I don't know if it flew any missions yet.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/jun/29 ... -en-route/

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Dave

I could not pass up the opportunity of seeing the Mars fly at Shasta, so I drove the three hours from the SMF area, and was amply rewarded. She flew from 0930 to 1330, doing about 10 drops. A beautiful sight and sound. Road access to a good vantage point was sparse, and I never got to see a water pickup. Being out on a boat would have been nice.
It's a shame that there is such a critical fire situation that it calls the Mars into action.
Paul in Vacaville, CA
P.S. 1st time trying to Photobucket anything. Forgive me if it doesn't post.

Very nice Paul, thanks for posting...

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Roger Cain
www.sfahistory.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stearman/


We must limit politicians to two terms:
one in office and one in jail.

Great photos, Paul! Thank you.

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Dave

Thanks Paul! Great pictures - I envy you. I hope I get a chance to see the Mars in flight some day.

Great shots, thanks for posting. it would be a real mixed blessing to see one of those beasts at work.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Nice photos!! How did she sound flying overhead?

The sound is very DC-7-ish, with the 3350s and 4-bladed props. The engines are derated to 2,500 horse each, I'm assuming so that they can firewall the engines after a water pickup without fear of overstress. As it approaches, you get that slightly out of synch throbbing sound, which peaks overhead. There is a little of the "train" doppler effect as it passes, nearly drowned out by the sweet bark of the exhaust, which makes the body vibrate. The sound is more intoxicating than Grey Goose.
In the first picture, the floatplane is used to spot the water pickup. I can only imagine how many drunk boaters want to get "just a little bit closer".
A You Tube search can likely find good footage of the sight and sound of the bird.
Paul in Vacaville, CA

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Paul in CA

As one of the very fortunate, remaining, few typed pilots on the Mars (and no, I'm not that old! ) I just wanted to say a few things about the Old Ladies...The Wright 3350-24WA (all even number dash series of Wright engines being built for the US Navy aircraft) powerplants are not "derated" as described in the previous thread. They were built to produce 2500 HP from the 18 cylinder, two stage supercharger (the high boost stage locked out on the Mars). The 4 blade Curtis Wright (nepotism here don't ya think?) all steel propellors are controlled via the Curtis Electric propellor control system and a real gem once you understand the principals (took me weeks to get it right, and then I began teaching the system) Caroline Mars (one of the originals also purchased by the Forest Industries Flying Tankers consortium in 1959) was a P&W 4360 "corn cob" powered behemoth but converted to the 3350-24W and was lost in a freak tornado in Victoria BC in the early 60's prior to conversion as a water bomber.

On a water pickup, the 85,416 lb empty weight aircraft, carrying a crew of 4, fuel, foam, gel and approximately 90 gallons of oil behind each powerplant will weigh around 125, 000 lbs and scoop an additional 37,000 lbs of water for an all up gross of 162,000 lbs That's equivalent to a fully loaded 757 passenger aircraft! As fuel loads are burned and foam and gel is consumed, the aircraft can eventually pick up to 7200 gallons weighing 60,000 lbs for the true "big gulp"

The pick-up is conducted "On Step" at about 70 KIAS, as the touchdown occurs around 85 KIAS and the aircraft rapidly slows to 70 KIAS with the two water scoop probes selected down. As the giant slows, we are thrown forward against our shouldeer harness, and the Flight Engineer advances throttles to 54 in. Hg to maintain 70KIAS during the 28 seconds it takes to scoop 60,000 lbs of water.

Hope this is of interest to those of you reading. Cheers!

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"Mars, not just another planet"

Very interesting indeed - and a hearty welcome to WIX! We'd love to hear more of your adventures with the Mars.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)