The Martin XB-16, company designation Model 145, was a projected heavy bomber designed in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
during the 1930s.
Design and development
The XB-16 was designed to meet 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 ri ...
(USAAC) request for a bomber that could carry of bombs .
The XB-16 (Model 145A) was to use four
Allison V-1710
The Allison V-1710 aircraft engine designed and produced by the Allison Engine Company was the most common United States, US-developed V12 engine, V-12 Internal combustion engine cooling, liquid-cooled engine in service during World War II. Ve ...
liquid-cooled reciprocating
V-engine
A V engine, sometimes called a Vee engine, is a common configuration for internal combustion engines. It consists of two cylinder banks—usually with the same number of cylinders in each bank—connected to a common crankshaft. These cylinder b ...
s; contemporary American aircraft used air-cooled
radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating engine, reciprocating type internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinder (engine), cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. ...
s.
In
1935
Events
January
* January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims.
* January 12 – Amelia Earhart ...
, Martin revised the XB-16 design as the Model 145B. The wingspan was increased from to , and a set of V-1710 engines added to the trailing edge. This version had a wingspan 20% greater than that of the
B-29 Superfortress
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a retired American four-engined Propeller (aeronautics), propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to ...
, the first operational bomber that would fill the role intended for the XB-16.
The XB-16 was canceled for essentially the same reason that the
Boeing XB-15 project was, as it was not fast enough to meet the requirements set by the Army. Since both were canceled around the same time, Martin did not have time to produce an XB-16.
Specifications (Model 145A)
See also
References
External links
USAF Museum description of XB-16Martin aircraft 146 specifications
{{USAF bomber aircraft
Martin B-16
B-16
Four-engined tractor aircraft
Four-engined piston aircraft
Twin-tail aircraft
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear
Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States