Martin Model 146

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. 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 mi (3,541 km), and a second for the exper... more

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. 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 mi (3,541 km), and a second for the experimental prototype of a 5,000 mi (8,047 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" . The Model 146 was not successful but it led the Martin company to begin research into contemporary aviation technology. Some offshoots... less