Martin XLB-4

XLB-4
Role Medium bomber
Manufacturer Martin
Status Paper project only
Number built 0

The Martin XLB-4 was a 1920s proposal for a light bomber by the Glenn L. Martin Company.

Design and development

The XLB-4 would have been a biplane bomber of all metal construction, powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engines. The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) ordered a single prototype serialled 27-332, but the aircraft was cancelled because the USAAC leadership was lukewarm about experimenting with all-metal aircraft.[1][2]

Specifications (XLB-4 estimated)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 5
  • Length: 44 ft 8 in (13.61 m)
  • Wingspan: 76 ft (23 m)
  • Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.06 m)
  • Wing area: 1,203.0 sq ft (111.76 m2)
  • Empty weight: 5,891 lb (2,672 kg)
  • Gross weight: 11,982 lb (5,435 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 525 hp (391 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 69 mph (111 km/h, 60 kn)
  • Wing loading: 9.98 lb/sq ft (48.7 kg/m2)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ Wagner, Ray (23 March 1982). American combat planes (3d, enl. ed.). Doubleday. ISBN 9780385131209.
  2. ^ Baugher, Joe. "Martin XLB-4". www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved 30 January 2019.