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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1577.PDF
FLIGHT May 30, 1940 MARTIN 167 j Two Pratt and Whitney • Twin Wasp S3C4-G •engines • DIMENSIONS • Span Length Height Wing area WB:IGHTS AND Weight empty. Normal useful load Normal gross weight Useful load max. range) Wing loading (normal) 61ft. 4in. \ 46ft. 8in. : 16ft. Sin. i 530.5 sq. ft. \ LOADINGS : 10,586 lb. j 4,711 lb. 1 15,297 lb. \ 6,807 lb i 28.5 lb./sq. ft. \ PERFORMANCE I Max. speed (sea level) Max. speed at critical alti-tude Service ceiling . Absolute ceiling on one engineRate of climb at sea level 281 m.p.h. • 316 m.p.h. ; 31,000ft ! 14,000ft. i 2,400ft./min. i Using S2C4-G engines with two-speed superchargers the performance is identical except for an increase of 2,oooft. in service ceiling. The second supercharger speed with these engines takes effect at 20,800ft. The highest performance is attained with S3C4-G engines operating on 100 octane fuel. These deliver 1,200 h.p. at 2,700 r.p.m. at sea level and 1,050 h.p. at 2,700 r.p.m. at 13,100ft. ; they have two-speed super- chargers and confer a top speed at sea level of 281 m.p.h. and a maximum at critical altitude of 316 m.p.h. It is claimed that the service ceiling is. 31,000ft., the rate of climb at sea level 2,400ft. /min., and the absolute single-engine ceiling 14,000ft. In addition to the two free guns behind the wing the 167 series is designed, if necessary, to take four fixed rifle-calibre guns, two in each wing on each side of the fuselage, firing outboard of the airscrew arcs and cap- able of being fired simultaneously or individually by switches on the rim of the pilot's control wheel. For bombing an internal rack may be installed to carry a maximum of 1,250 lb. of bombs in any of the following arrangements:—One 1,130 1b. bomb; two 624 1b. bombs ; four 308 1b. bombs ; or eight 116 lb. bombs. On a number of the French machines the bomb bay is occupied by a long-range tank as the aircraft are intended for strategical reconnaissance. Doubtless the French Government is making its own arrangements for bomb grouping. The bombs are released through two doors in the bottom of the fuselage. When ground attack missions are to be undertaken the four fixed wing guns are fitted and small fragmenta- tion bombs are carried in chutes in the bomb lay. The manufacturers claim that the machine is also suitable for fighting, but it must be borne in mind that it is comparatively large and heavy and but lightly armed in comparison with other modern types of twin- engined fighters. The story of the development of the 167 as related in Fortune makes interesting reading. In 1938 Mr. Glenn Martin was out after new U.S. Army orders and in January of that year the Army put out specifications for a new competition for '' attack bombers." These reflected a combination of European experience with relatively small twin-engined bombers and the U.S. Army's experience with ground-attack machines. An aircraft of about 15,000 lb. capable of over 280 m.p.h. was required. Martin, Douglas, Stear- man and others submitted machines, but when the proto- types were about half finished the Army began to change its mind as to what it really wanted. It was announced that the competition would be held as arranged, but it was also stated that a new series of specifications for larger and heavier machines had been drawn up and that a competition would be set for April. Late in 1938 the French Government sent a mission to America and in the following February it was announced that 115 Martin 167s had been ordered, the figure later being increased to 215. In March the U.S. Army doggedly went through with its originally planned competition though no production orders were placed. The following month saw the completion and testing of the heavier, faster machines as a result of which a 15,000,000 dollar order was placed with the Douglas concern. "Thus," states Fortune, "the French got their American ships as the President desired, but the Army also emerged with a faster plane."
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