U.S. AIR GIANT LIES IN WEST COAST PORT The 70-ton flying boat Mars of the U.S.

U.S. AIR GIANT LIES IN WEST COAST PORT The 70-ton flying boat Mars of the U.S. Naval Air Transport Service, lies in a U.S. West Coast harbor, its tail observation post jutting high above the water and three crewmen standing on the port wing. The world's largest transport plane, the Mars, has flown 16,000 miles (25,600 kilometers) in less than 100 hours, and set a record with a non-stop 4,375 mile (7,000 kilometer) flight from the Eastern U.S. State of Maryland, to Natal, Brazil, with 13,000 pounds (5,900 kilograms) of mail. The Mars set another record with a trip from Belem, Brazil, to Port of Spain, Trinidad, in the British West Indies, with 35,000 pounds (15,800 kilograms) of beryllium, mica and tantalite aboard. The giant flying boat, originally designed as a petrol bomber, is 117 feet (35 meters) long, and has a 200-foot (60 meter) wingspread. It is used as a transoceanic cargo carrier.