When one of the world’s largest flying boats could not take to the air, it got a lift from a Western Star truck. The 76,000-lb World War II-era Philippine Mars flying boat — one of the last of its kind — was retired and transported to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz.
The 150-mile journey was completed using a Western Star 49X, chosen for its strength and heavy-haul performance, according to a news release. The length from the tractor bumper to the tail of the plane measured over 140 feet, and the gross vehicle weight of the truck and aircraft exceeded 177,000 pounds.
The Philippine Mars — which features a 200-ft. wingspan and once served as an aerial firefighting aircraft capable of dropping more than 7,000 gallons of water — was hauled by Boneyard Safari, specializing in historic aircraft transport, in partnership with Southwest Industrial Rigging.
“We started this project on Feb. 10, when we met the Philippine Mars on Lake Pleasant in Arizona. Extracting her from the water and preparing her for the journey was a massive undertaking,” said Aaron Goldstein, marketing director of Southwest Industrial Rigging, in a news release. “Once she was ready, we relied on our 49X for the long haul to the museum.”
The oversized load was moved exclusively at night to reduce traffic disruption, with police escorts and utility crews supporting the five-night convoy. The route itself required last-minute adjustments to avoid low power lines, and convoy traveled five nights on state and local roads at an average speed of 25 miles per hour.
Southwest Industrial Rigging says it has used Western Star trucks for more than 45 years and recently added four new 49X units to its heavy-haul division.
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