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 The Worlds Largest Sea Plane This page is going to give a brief history of the Mars and
display some pictures. For more information, pictures, and action video clips of
the Martin Mars, I recommend you to visit the official website of Forest
Industries Flying Tankers Limited.
 Brief History of the
Martin MarsThe Martin Mars was originally ordered by the US Navy in 1938, as a flying-boat patrol bomber. The XPB2M-1 prototype flew for the first time on 3 July 1942, before being converted to transport configuration as the XPB2M-1R in late 1943. In January 1945, 20 Wright R-3350-8-powered JRM-1 Mars transports were ordered by the US Navy, but only five were built, followed by a single JRM-2 powered by more powerful R-4360 engines and with a higher take-off weight of 82 1/2 tons. The five JRM-1 were later upgraded to the same standard under the designation JRM-3. The six production aircraft were operated by VR-2 of the US Navy's Air Transport Service till 1956. One was lost in an accident in 1945 and another was destroyed in a fire in 1950. In 1959, MacMillan Bloedel bought the remaining four aircraft, together with 30 engines and a massive holding of spares, for $100,000. Operations with the Mars began from Sproat Lake in 1960. Mariana Mars was destroyed in a fatal crash near Parkville on Vancouver Island during 1961. Carolina Mars was destroyed on the ground during a typhoon at Pat Bay Airport the following year. The two survivors, Philippine Mars and Hawaii Mars, have plenty of life left in them. Many expect them to serve into the next century.
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