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See visitor info (above) for Museum Information & directions
Watch for a new updated Web Site in early 2010
2010 is the 20th anniversary of the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum
Watch for a many new events in 2010 and come visit.
**Updated!! Jan, 14 2010 **
See the Events page for news about the up-comming events and speakers
Speakers:
Feb 1, 2010 - 7pm
Al Pollard, A.A.E. - Director of the Martin State Airport.
Al will talk about the past, present & future of the Martin State Airport. We are now in the 80th year of the airport and Al will talk about the next 80 years.
Events in 2010 --- See Events page for details.
March 21 --> 2 - 5pm
BOWLING FUN WITH AVIATION FUNDRAISER
See Events page for details.
Both Maulers are back in Maryland & are being stored in our new work area in Plant 2
See News - for more pictures
The following press release talks about the Martin Mauler
The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum bringing rare historic Martin AM-1 Mauler back home to Middle River, Maryland
Middle River, MD March 06, 2009 -- The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum has announced it is acquiring a very rare Martin AM-1 Mauler aircraft for restoration and display. The airplane, built in 1947, and property of the U.S. Navy, is one of the earliest Maulers built. The Mauler has been stored with the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) in Midland, Texas. A partial airframe is also being acquired for parts.
The Museum is sending a small team of volunteer members to Midland, Texas for a one to two week mission this month to disassemble and load the aircraft on trucks for shipment back to Middle River where the Maulers were built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Few Maulers are in existence today with only two others known: both completely restored and on exhibit in outstanding aviation museums, one in the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida and the other at the Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon.
This will be an exciting acquisition for the Museum, as the Mauler is one of the last piston engine/propeller tactical aircraft designs, and was considered an advanced aircraft that today represents a distinct period of aviation technology development just at the start of the jet age. This is also a welcome opportunity for the Museum to bring home another Martin aircraft type as few Martin aircraft remain and they seldom become available.
The origin of the Martin Mauler dates back to WWII when in September 1943 the Navy awarded contracts to several manufacturers for the design of a new attack aircraft. Four months later Martin won one of the contracts that called for final design and construction of a prototype. On August 26, 1944, Martin test pilot O. E. “Pat Tibbs flew the first flight of this large, single-seat, 3000 horsepower airplane. By March 1948, Maulers were serving with four attack squadrons, mostly aboard the new aircraft carrier USS Midway. In 1949, Tibbs began flying Maulers with remarkable loads. In April 1949 he took up a Mauler carrying a payload of 10,648 pounds to set an unofficial record for single-engine planes. In the 1950s the Maulers were reassigned to naval reserve squadrons flying from land bases. Just over 150 Maulers were built, including 18 two-seat Maulers delivered as electronic-countermeasures planes. The airframe being restored by the Museum was only the fourth production unit.
Because the restoration process is so labor intensive, these projects are often feasible only through the dedication of volunteers. The Museum will organize a formal restoration project around the Mauler, to include an ongoing training program to develop an experienced restoration team. This effort will provide a fascinating way to learn aircraft restoration on a local, historic artifact. When the long-term restoration project concludes, the Mauler will be a key part of one of the Museum’s future indoor displays. Having another Martin built aircraft in its collection will further help the Museum celebrate the heritage of the workers of the Martin plant and the Middle River and eastern Baltimore County communities. The Mauler project, from restoration to finished display, will tie in naturally with the Museum’s overall exhibit and educational themes.
With the aircraft scheduled to arrive back in Middle River around the end of March, the Museum would like to contact anyone who helped design, build, fly, or maintain the Maulers during their Martin or Navy days. Of particular interest will be personal stories and donated original or copied photos, documentation, memorabilia, or other artifacts. The Museum is also looking for volunteer support in a variety of roles.
The acquisition and restoration of such a large aircraft is a major undertaking, and financial and in-kind support is being sought to help cover both acquisition and restoration costs. The Museum welcomes financial donations from individuals and organizations and the restoration effort will need donated power tools; metal machining equipment (lathes, mills, drill presses); and sheet metal tools (shears, brakes, and forming equipment).
Contributions can be sent to the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum, P.O. Box 5024 Middle River, Maryland 21220 – Attention: MARTIN MAULER Project. Volunteers can register by calling the Museum. Donated items may be delivered to the Museum from 11am – 3pm, Wednesday – Saturday, or by prior arrangement. The Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and donations may be tax deductible. For additional information, visit the Museum's web site at http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/ or call 410-682-6122.
This is the Martin Mauler as it sits waiting to be shipped back to the Museum
The Martin Mauler just off of the assembly line in Baltimore
Watch for new pictures & information about the Martin Mauler, the F-5, and updates on the Learning Center & other projects
Upcoming Events: see the Events page for more details
Birthday Party Fun at the Museum
Our "Up, Up and Away" 3 hour birthday package, 11am - 2pm on Saturdays, includes two hours of engaging activities and one hour in our party area for cake eating and gift opening. Your children will be flying high with excitement as they enjoy their personally lead visit to Strawberry Point and their staff-lead activity fun in the Museum's new Learning Center.
For the warmer weather months of April - October, select one of two airfield experiences at Strawberry Point for the first segment of your visit:
1) Welcome Aboard on the Museum's 404, a 1950's airliner
or
2) Fighter Jet Flyer
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