Martin B-10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-10

The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to be regularly used by
the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934. It was also the
first mass-produced bomber whose performance was superior to that of the Army's
pursuit aircraft of the time.

The B-10 served as the airframe for the B-12, B-13, B-14, A-15 and O-45
designations using Pratt & Whitney engines instead of Wright Cyclones. A total
of 348 of all versions were built. Biggest users were the USA, with 166, and the
Netherlands, with 121.

The B-10 began a revolution in bomber design. Its all-metal monoplane airframe,
along with its features of closed cockpits, rotating gun turrets (almost
simultaneously to the British Overstrand biplane bomber's own enclosed
nose-turret), retractable landing gear, internal bomb bay, and full engine
cowlings, would become the standard for bomber designs worldwide for decades. It
made all existing bombers completely obsolete. In 1932, Martin received the
Collier Trophy for designing the XB-10.


Role Bomber aircraft
Manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company
Designer Peyton M. Magruder
First flight 16 February 1932
Introduction November 1934
Retired 1949 Royal Thai Air Force
Primary users United States Army Air Corps
Netherlands East Indies AF
Turkish Air Force
Chinese Nationalist Air Force
Argentinian Air Force
Produced 1933-1940
Number built 121 B-10
82 model 166
32 B-12
348 of all variants including 182 export versions
Unit cost $52,083
Variants Martin Model 146

At the time of its creation, the B-10B was so advanced that General Henry H.
Arnold described it as the airpower wonder of its day. It was half again as fast
as any biplane bomber, and faster than any contemporary fighter. The B-10 began
a revolution in bomber design; it made all existing bombers completely obsolete.

Rapid advances in bomber design in the late 1930s meant that the B-10 was
eclipsed by the time the United States entered World War II. The 139s in combat
in China and South East Asia suffered the same disadvantages as the other early
war medium bombers, i.e. not enough armour and guns, while it couldn't outrun
the latest fighters. Nevertheless, the 166 had the highest performance of all
the medium bombers in the theatre at the time, early 1942.

Specifications (B-10B)

General characteristics
Crew: 3
Length: 44 ft 9 in (13.6 m)
Wingspan: 70 ft 6 in (21.5 m)
Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.7 m)
Wing area: 678 ft² (63 m²)
Empty weight: 9,681 lb (4,391 kg)
Loaded weight: 14,700 lb (6,680 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 16,400 lb (7,440 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-33 (G-102) "Cyclone" radials, 775 hp (578 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 213 mph (185 kn, 343 km/h)
Cruise speed: 193 mph (168 kn, 310.6 km/h)
Range: 1,240 mi (1,078 nmi, 1,996 km)
Service ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,380 m)
Rate of climb: 1,380 ft/min (420 m/min)
Wing loading: 21.7 lb/ft² (106 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.105 hp/lb (173 W/kg)

Armament
Guns: 3 × .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns
Bombs: 2,260 lb (1,030 kg)



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