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The
Martin XB-26H was the subject of the
August 1998
"From the Archives" feature and includes a 1940s news release
from Martin and more photos.
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TYPE
XB-26H |
Number Built/Converted
1 (cv) |
Remarks
Tandem landing gear test aircraft |
Notes:
- Serial number: 44-68221
- The XB-26H was used to test
a tandem landing gear arrangement for the XB-48.
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 71 ft. 0 in.
Length: 56 ft. 1 in.
Height: 20 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 38,200 lbs. (max.)
Armament: None
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 "Double Wasp" radials of 2,000
hp. each (take-off power)
Crew: 2
PERFORMANCE (as B-26G
not XB-26H)
Maximum speed: 283 mph at 5,000 ft.
Cruising speed: 216 mph.
Range: 1,100 miles w/ 4,000 lbs. bomb load
Service Ceiling: 19,800 ft. |
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From the Archives
From the Archives is a monthly feature of the
USAF Museum web site presenting information from our archives about
aircraft not displayed at the museum.
 The
Martin XB-26H
'Middle River Stump Jumper'
was featured during August 1998.
(Glenn L.
Martin Company Public Relations Department from the mid-1940s) This
strange-looking tandem gear, mounted on a U.S. Army Air Forces
Martin B-26 Marauder, is the Glenn L. Martin Company's answer to a
problem of stowing heavy, bulky landing gears in the thinner wings
required for new multi-jet planes. Two main wheels, fore and aft of
the wing, retract into the fuselage, while smaller outrigger wheels
on either wing will aid the pilot in balancing the plane while
taxiing. Here, the small wheels are located in the engine nacelles.
On jet planes, they will be on the wing tips. Burning rubber and
deep skid marks at the Glenn L. Martin Middle River Airport indicate
the severe tests to which the new type tandem gear was put by Martin
test pilots.
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Source:
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b3-23.htm |
James D. West 