Martin Model 146

Infobox Aircraft
name=Model 146
type=Medium bomber
manufacturer=Glenn L. Martin Company


caption=Martin Model 146 during competition c. 1935, USAF photo
designer=Peyton M. Magruder
first flight=1935
introduced=1934
retired=
status=Experimental prototype
primary user=United States Army Air Corps (intended)
more users=
produced=1935
number built=1
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=Martin B-10

The Martin Model 146 was an unsuccessful American bomber design that lost to the Boeing Model 299 which spawned the famous B-17 Flying Fortress.

Design and development

Although generally satisfied with the speed and bombload of the Martin B-10, the United States Army Air Corps procurement officials wanted a longer ranging bomber. Two competitions were held in 1934-35: one for several hundred fast bombers capable of flying 2,200 miles, and a second for the experimental prototype of a 5,000-mile bomber.

The Martin 146 was built for the first competition, competing with the Boeing Model 299 and Douglas DB-1. The Model 146 bore a striking resemblance to the earlier Martin B-10, with the same configurations of turret and cockpits and even the same two Wright Cyclone engines – "hardly positive selling points for a customer looking for the latest technology" [ [http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/images/PC002-027_146copy.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/history/martin_aircraft/10_bombers.html&start=5&h=72&w=96&sz=7&tbnid=QzTd1wMmG2aFoM:&tbnh=61&tbnw=81&hl=en&um=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522Martin%2B146%2522%2B%2Bbomber%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DISO-8859-1%26sa%3DN Model 146] ] .

The Model 146 was not successful but it led the Martin company to begin research into contemporary aviation technology. Some offshoots included the innovative Model 145 proposed for the long range bomber competition as well as the early studies that would lead to the Model 179 (later to emerge as the wartime Martin B-26).

pecifications (Model 146/ modified B-10A)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=
crew=3
length main=44 ft 9 in
length alt=13.6 m
span main=70 ft 6 in
span alt=21.5 m
height main=15 ft 5 in
height alt=4.7 m
area main=678 ft²
area alt=63 m²
loaded weight main=14,700 lb
loaded weight alt=6,680 kg
max takeoff weight main=16,400 lb
max takeoff weight alt=7,440 kg

number of props=2
type of prop="Cyclone" radials
engine (prop)=Wright R-1820-33
power/main=775 hp
power alt=578 kW

max speed main=215 mph
max speed alt=187 kt, 346 km/h
cruise speed main=183 mph
cruise speed alt=159 kt, 294 km/h
range main=1,370 mi
range alt=1,190 nm, 2,200 km
ceiling main=24,200 ft
ceiling alt=7,380 m
loading main=21.7 lb/ft²
loading alt=106 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.105 hp/lb
power/mass alt=173 W/kg

guns=3× .300 in (7.26 mm) Browning machine guns
bombs=2,260 lb (1,030 kg)

ee also

aircontent

similar aircraft=
* Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
* Douglas B-18 Bolo

sequence=
* Martin B-10 - YB-11 - B-12 - XB-13 - XB-14 - XB-15- Model 146

lists=
* List of bomber aircraft
* List of military aircraft of the United States

References

* Baugher, Joe. "Martin B-10". "Encyclopedia of American Aircraft". [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b10.html] Access date: 4 July 2007.
* Taylor, John W. R. "Martin B-10". "Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present". New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.

External links

* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=340 National Museum of the US Air force article on B-10]