JRM Mars 1134364 224675570 2008-07-09T22:37:08Z 69.232.170.165 /* Navy service */ <!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> {{infobox Aircraft |name = JRM Mars |type = [[Flying boat]] [[Cargo aircraft|transport]] <br/>[[Aerial firefighting|Water bomber]] |manufacturer = [[Glenn L. Martin Company|Martin]] |image = Image:Caroline Mars.jpg |caption = The "Caroline Mars" '''JRM-2 Mars''' in Navy service. |designer = |first flight = 1941 |introduced = 1945, U.S. Navy |retired = 1956, U.S. Navy |status = 2 survive as water bombers |primary user = [[United States Navy]], 1945-1956 |more users = [[Flying Tankers, Inc.|Flying Tankers]], 1959-present |produced = 1945-1947 |number built = 6 |unit cost = |variants with their own articles = }} The '''Martin JRM Mars''' was the largest [[flying boat]] ever to enter [[mass production|production]]. The [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] contracted the development of the '''XPB2M-1 Mars''' in [[1938 in aviation|1938]] as a flying [[dreadnought]] for [[patrol bomber|ocean patrol]]. ==Navy service== [[Image:Martin Mars.jpg|thumb|left|The prototype '''XPB2M-1 Mars''']] [[Image:JRM Marshall Mars burning 5Apr1950.jpg|thumb|right|Marshall Mars burning on 5 April 1950 near Honululu, Hawaii]] The [[Glenn L. Martin Company|Martin Company]] effectively scaled up their successful [[PBM Mariner]] [[patrol bomber]] design to produce the prototype XPB2M-1 Mars.<ref name=goebel>{{cite web | title=The Martin Mariner, Mars, & Marlin Flying Boats | work=Air Vectors | author=Goebel, Greg | url=http://www.vectorsite.net/avmars.html#m5 | accessdate=2006-05-06 | year=[[2004-06-01]] }}</ref> After flight tests with the XPB2M between [[1941 in aviation|1941]] and [[1943 in aviation|1943]], she was passed on to the Navy. The original patrol bomber concept was considered obsolete by this time, and the Mars was converted into a [[Cargo aircraft|transport aircraft]] designated the '''XPB2M-1R'''. The Navy was satisfied with the performance, and ordered 20 of the modified '''JRM-1 Mars'''.<ref name=goebel/> The first, named ''Hawaii Mars'', was delivered in June [[1945 in aviation|1945]], but the with the end of World War II the Navy scaled back their order, buying only the five aircraft which were then on the production line.<ref name=jane>{{Ref Jane's|The Martin Model 170 Mars|244-245}}</ref> Though the original Hawaii Mars was lost in an accident on [[Chesapeake Bay]], the other 5 Mars were completed, and the last delivered in [[1947 in aviation|1947]]. Named the ''Marianas Mars'', ''Philippine Mars'', ''Marshall Mars'', ''Caroline Mars'', and a second ''Hawaii Mars'', the 5 production Mars aircraft entered service ferrying cargo to [[Hawaii]] and the Pacific Islands. The last production airplane (the Caroline Mars) was designated JRM-2, powered by 3,000 HP [[Pratt & Whitney R-4360]] engines, and featured a higher maximum weight and other improvements. On [[April 5]], [[1950 in aviation|1950]], the ''Marshall Mars'' was lost near Hawaii when an engine fire consumed the airplane after her crew had evacuated. The remaining "Big Four" flew record amounts of Naval cargo on the [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]]-[[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]] route efficiently until [[1956 in aviation|1956]], when they were parked at [[NAS Alameda]].<ref name=goebel/> ==Civilian use== [[Image:Phillipine Mars2.jpg|thumb|The Philippine '''JRM-3 Mars''' [[water bomber]] moored at its current base on [[Sproat Lake]]]] [[Image:Mars Flyby.jpg|thumb|Mars flyby over [[Port Alberni]] inlet.]] In [[1959 in aviation|1959]], the remaining Mars were sold for scrap. [[Dan McIvor]], who represented a consortium of [[British Columbia]] lumber companies, recognized their potential value as [[water bomber]]s and had them converted. A company called [[Flying Tankers Inc.]] was formed, and purchased the "Big Four" for [[aerial firefighting]]. The ''Marianas Mars'' crashed near [[Northwest Bay]], [[British Columbia]] on [[June 23]], [[1961 in aviation|1961]] during firefighting operations; all four crewmembers were lost. Just over a year later, on [[October 12]], [[1962 in aviation|1962]], the ''Caroline Mars'' was destroyed by [[Typhoon Freda]] while parked onshore. The remaining ''Hawaii Mars'' and ''Philippine Mars'' had their conversions to water bombers accelerated and entered service in [[1963 in aviation|1963]].<ref name=goebel/> The two surviving tankers are now operated by the Coulson Group, based at [[Sproat Lake]] near [[Port Alberni, British Columbia]]. When converted, the original powerplants were replaced with four [[Wright R-3350|Wright R-3350-24WA]] Cyclone engines of 2500 hp (1860 kW) each. The aircraft can carry up to 7,200 US gal (27,250 litres) of water, enough to cover an area of 4 acres (16,000 m²).<ref name=tank>{{cite web | url=http://www.martinmars.com/mars.html | title=Aircraft Fleet | work=Flying Tankers Inc. | accessdate=2006-05-06}}</ref> They are used to fight fires along the coast of British Columbia, and even sometimes in the interior. They also make appearances at local airshows, demonstrating their water-dropping ability. Flying Tankers Inc. also flies the water bombers to other hotspots around the world if a need develops, such as in August of 2003 when a [[2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire|large forest fire]] threatened the city of [[Kelowna, British Columbia]]. On [[November 10]], [[2006]], TimberWest Forest Ltd. announced that they are looking for buyers of the Mars. A condition of this sale is that the purchasers will donate one back to Port Alberni when they are retired as a historical attraction.<ref name=sale>{{cite web | url=http://www.timberwest.com/PDF/FTI_Media_Release_11.10.06.pdf | title=TimberWest Seeks Buyers For Martin Mars Water Bombers | work=TimberWest Forest Ltd. | accessdate=2006-11-12}}</ref> The Maryland Aviation Museum and British Columbia Aviation Council have initiated a joint effort to preserve the aircraft, one in Maryland and the other at their current location in Canada. <ref name=museum>{{cite web | url=http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/mars/Alliance_Martin_Mars_Water_Bombers_Press_Release.pdf | title=Canadian Aviation Organization and U.S. Museum Create Alliance | work=Maryland Aviation Museum | accessdate=2006-11-12}}</ref> On [[April 13]], [[2007]], TimberWest has announced the sale of both Martin Mars aircraft to Coulson Forest Products, a local forestry company in Port Alberni. The Mars will remain in the [[Alberni Valley]] operating from their base at [[Sproat Lake]]. On [[October 25]], [[2007]], ''Hawaii Mars'' ("Redtail") arrived at [[Lake Elsinore]] in [[Southern California]], negotiated through a private contract, to assist with the firefighting efforts containing the [[California wildfires of October 2007]]. ==Specifications (JRM-3 Mars) == [[Image:JRM-3 Philippine Mars takeoff Alameda.jpg|thumb|Philippine Mars taking off from Alameda in 1946]] [[Image:JRM-2 VR-2 NAS Jax 1949.jpg|thumb|Caroline Mars at NAS Jacksonville in 1949]] {{aircraft specifications| |plane or copter?=plane |jet or prop?=prop |ref=Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II<ref name=jane/> |crew=four (with accommodations for a second relief crew) |capacity=133 troops, or 84 litter patients and 25 attendants |payload main=32,000 lb |payload alt=15,000 kg |payload more=of cargo, including up to seven [[Willys MB|jeep]]s |length main=117 ft 3 in |length alt=35.74 m |span main=200 ft 0 in |span alt=60.96 m |height main=38 ft 5 in |height alt=11.71 m |area main=3,686 ft² |area alt=342.4 m² |empty weight main= 75,573 lb |empty weight alt=34,279 kg |loaded weight main= 90,000 lb |loaded weight alt= 40,820 kg |max takeoff weight main=165,000 lb |max takeoff weight alt=74,800 kg |engine (prop)=[[Wright R-3350| Wright R-3350-24WA Duplex Cyclone]] (JRM-1 aircraft were originally powered with this engine, but modified by the Navy with more powerful [[Pratt & Whitney R-4360]] "Corn Cob" engines and designated JRM-3; civilian operators converted them back to Wright R-3350s) |type of prop=18-cylinder [[radial engine]]s |number of props=4 |power main=2,500 hp |power alt=1,865 kW |max speed main=192 knots |max speed alt=221 mph, 356 km/h |range main= 4,300 nautical miles |range alt=5,000 mi, 8,000 km |ceiling main=14,600 ft |ceiling alt=4,450 m <!-- if this data is available, please add it: |climb rate main= ft/min |climb rate alt= m/s |loading main=lb/ft² |loading alt= kg/m² |power/mass main= hp/lb |power/mass alt= kW/kg --> }} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://community.webshots.com/photo/362079242/1130922055048918155JiQrMd Promotional flyer for the Martin Mars ‘flying hotel’] * [http://www.martinmars.com/ Flying Tankers, Inc.] * [http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/mars/index.html Martin Mars Page of the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum] * [http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/mars/Alliance_Martin_Mars_Water_Bombers_Press_Release.pdf Museum-Canadian Mars Alliance Created] * [http://www.oldwings.nl/content/mars/mars_a.htm Martin Mars Page including photos and a full, detailed production list of all seven aircraft built] * [http://www.oldwings.nl/content/mars/mars_l.htm Photo page showing how a Martin Mars is launched] * [http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=171666 NBC News video of ''Hawaii Mars'' arriving at [[Lake Elsinore]]] * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/sets/72157602748676787/ Collection of Martin Mars images on Flickr] * The two surviving Mars at Sproat Lake are at coordinates {{coord|49.2878|-124.9352|type:landmark}} * [http://cargolaw.com/2007nightmare_marlin.html A Martin Mars battles wildfires in California in 2007] ==See also== {{aircontent |related= * [[PBM Mariner]] |similar aircraft= * [[Blohm & Voss BV 222]] |sequence= * Martin model [[PBM Mariner|162]] - '''170''' - [[B-26 Marauder|179]] - [[Martin Baltimore|187]] - [[Martin 202|202]] |lists= * [[List of flying boats]] }} {{USN patrol aircraft}} {{USN utility aircraft}} {{Giant aircraft}} {{aviation lists}} [[Category:Seaplanes and flying boats]] [[Category:United States military transport aircraft 1940-1949]] [[Category:Firefighting equipment]] [[Category:Aerial firefighting]] [[cs:Martin JRM Mars]] [[de:Martin Mars]] [[ja:JRM (航空機)]] [[pl:Martin XPB2M Mars]] [[pt:Martin JRM Mars]] [[ru:Martin Mars]]