The Martin Model 146 was an unsuccessful
American bomber design that lost a 1934–1935 bomber design competition to the prototype for the
Douglas B-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo is an American heavy bomber which served with the United States Army Air Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force (as the Digby) during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company ...
(itself soon supplanted by the
B-17 Flying Fortress).
Design and development
Although generally satisfied with the speed and bombload of the
Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to be regularly used by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934.Jackson 2003, p. 246. It was also the first mass-produced bomber whose performance was superior to ...
, the
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...
expressed a requirement for a bomber with long range. Two competitions were held in 1934–35: one for fast bombers capable of flying , and a second for the experimental prototype of a bomber.
The Martin 146 was built for the first competition, competing with the Boeing Model 299 (later the B-17) and
Douglas DB-1 (later the B-18). Two versions were submitted for the competition, the Model 146 (actual aircraft) and the Model 146A (design only). The only significance between the two was the planform, the 146 center section was rectangular with the outer wing being tapered while the 146A had a constant taper.
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 R-1820 Cyclone
The Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 is an American radial engine developed by Curtiss-Wright, widely used on aircraft in the 1930s through 1950s. It was produced under license in France as the Hispano-Suiza 9V or Hispano-Wright 9V, and in the Soviet Uni ...
engines – albeit with 33% more power than the Cyclones of the original B-10. The biggest differences between this aircraft and the Martin 139 (B-10) was that it was wider, allowing the pilot and co-pilot to sit side by side
"Model 146."
''marylandaviationmuseum.org.'' Retrieved: 5 December 2o12. and was equipped with Fowler flap
A flap is a high-lift device used to reduce the stalling speed of an aircraft wing at a given weight. Flaps are usually mounted on the wing trailing edges of a fixed-wing aircraft. Flaps are used to reduce the take-off distance and the landi ...
s, the first large aircraft equipped with them.
The Model 146 was not successful but it led the Martin company to begin research into contemporary aviation technology. Some offshoots included the innovative Martin 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). The aircraft was eventually returned to the factory and scrapped.
Specifications (Model 146)
See also
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
* Baugher, Joe
"Martin B-10".
''Encyclopedia of American Aircraft''. Retrieved: 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. .
External links
National Museum of the US Air force article on B-10
{{Martin aircraft
146
Martin Martin may refer to:
Places
* Martin City (disambiguation)
* Martin County (disambiguation)
* Martin Township (disambiguation)
Antarctica
* Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land
* Port Martin, Adelie Land
* Point Martin, South Orkney Islands
Austr ...
Mid-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1935
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft