Martin M-130
| Martin M-130 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Airliner |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 30, 1934 |
| Commissioning: |
1935 |
| Production time: |
1934-1936 |
| Number of pieces: |
3 |
The Martin M-130 was a four-engine commercial flying boat made by the US manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company in the 1930s. The three aircraft built were only used by Pan American Airways (Pan Am) and flew on the Pacific route from San Francisco to Manila. They were named China Clipper , Philippine Clipper and Hawaii Clipper . A similar flying boat (the Martin 156) called the Russian Clipper , built for the Soviet Union, had a larger wing (which gave it greater range) and two vertical stabilizers.
history
Pan Am announced the technical requirements for a long-range flying boat as early as 1931. Two designs were then submitted: the Sikorsky S-42 and the Martin M-130. The founder and head of Pan American, Juan Trippe , accepted both proposals. Fully equipped, an M-130 cost US $ 417,000 compared to US $ 242,000 for the S-42. The then price of US $ 78,000 for a Douglas DC-2 can serve as a comparison .
The M-130 was used almost exclusively in the Pacific. The introduction of the Transpacific Liner Service by Pan Am from November 22 to 29, 1935 was a historic event in aviation history. The China Clipper (registration number NC 14716) needed 59 hours and 48 minutes of pure flight time for the 13,100 km (8210 mls) route . Only airmail was carried on this flight; the introduction of passenger service on the route took place on October 21, 1936.
The 3800 km (2400 mls) section from California to Hawaii was critical in terms of passenger capacity. Because of the necessary fuel reserves, only a maximum of eight passengers could be transported here, with a total of 41 available seats. The price for the one-way route San Francisco - Manila was US $ 799 at the time, which, applied to today's conditions, corresponds to about twice the level of Concorde flights.
construction
The M-130 was a shoulder- wing aircraft , which, with the exception of the wings behind the main spar, was designed as an all-metal construction. There was an X-shaped strut between the short fuselage outriggers, which improved stability on the water and also contributed to the lift, and the wing. The waterfall speed was 105-113 km / h. The M-130 was the first transport aircraft with two-row radial engines and adjustable engine flaps for temperature control. Even with two-engine flight, a height of 1829 m could be maintained. It was also the first transport aircraft with integral fuel tanks.
The 13.70 m long passenger cabin was divided into three compartments, there were two washrooms and a kitchen.
Whereabouts
The Hawaiian Clipper disappeared without a trace east of Manila on July 28, 1938. The Philippine Clipper hit a mountain about 160 km north of San Francisco on January 21, 1943, while the China Clipper sank on January 8, 1945 in Port of Spain , Trinidad.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 5 |
| Passengers | Max. 36-41 |
| length | 27.62 m |
| span | 39.62 m |
| payload | 12,000 kg |
| Empty mass | 11,505 kg |
| Cruising speed | 262 km / h |
| Top speed | ? km / h |
| Service ceiling | 5200 m |
| Range | 5150 km |
| Engines | four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasps with 618 kW (840 hp) each. In 1939 the two remaining machines were exchanged for more powerful engines. |
See also
literature
- Gene Banning: Pan Am's Clippers , in Flightpath Vol. 1, pp. 152-167, Fall 2003, AIRtime Publishing, ISBN 1-880588-65-X
- REG Davies: PAN AM - An airline and its aircraft , pp. 38f., Hamlyn Publ. Group, 1987
