| Model 146 | |
|---|---|
| Martin Model 146 during competition c. 1935, USAF photo | |
| Role | Medium bomber |
| Manufacturer | Glenn L. Martin Company |
| Designer | Peyton M. Magruder |
| First flight | 1935 |
| Introduction | 1934 |
| Status | Experimental prototype |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps (intended) |
| Produced | 1935 |
| Number built | 1 |
| Variants | 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.
Contents |
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 (3,500 km), and a second for the experimental prototype of a 5,000-mile (8,000 km) 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" [1].
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).
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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