Martin-Baker MB 5
MB 5 | |
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Role | Fighter |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Martin-Baker |
First flight | 23 May 1944 |
Status | Experimental |
Primary user | Royal Air Force (intended) |
Number built | 1 |
Developed from | Martin-Baker MB 3 |
The British Martin-Baker MB 5 was the ultimate development of a series of prototype fighter aircraft built during the Second World War. Neither the MB 5 nor its predecessors ever entered production, despite what test pilots described as excellent performance.[1]
Design and development
Martin-Baker Aircraft actually began the MB 5 as the second Martin-Baker MB 3 prototype, designed to Air Ministry Specification F.18/39 for an agile, sturdy Royal Air Force fighter, able to fly faster than 400 mph. After the first MB 3 crashed in 1942, killing Val Baker, the second prototype was delayed. A modified MB 3 with a Rolls-Royce Griffon was planned as the MB 4, but a full redesign was chosen instead.[2]
The re-designed aircraft, designated MB 5, used wings similar to the MB 3, but had an entirely new steel-tube fuselage. Power came from a Rolls-Royce Griffon 83 liquid-cooled V-12 engine, producing 2,340 hp (1,745 kW) and driving two three-bladed contra-rotating propellers.[3] Armament was four 20 mm Hispano cannon, mounted in the wings outboard of the widely spaced retractable undercarriage. A key feature of the design was ease of manufacture and maintenance: much of the structure was box-like, favouring straight lines and simple conformation.[4]
It was built under the same contract that covered the building of the MB.3.[5]
Flight testing
The first flight of the MB 5 prototype, serial R2496, took place on 23 May 1944.[6] Performance was considered outstanding by test pilots, and the cockpit layout was praised by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE). The accessibility of the fuselage for maintenance was excellent, thanks to a system of detachable panels.
- "In my opinion this is an outstanding aircraft, particularly when regarded in the light of the fact that it made its maiden flight as early as 23rd May 1944"
– Test pilot Capt. Eric Brown, 1948 [1]
Acknowledged as one of the best aerobatic pilots in the UK, S/L Janusz Żurakowski from the A&AEE at RAF Boscombe Down gave a spectacular display at the Farnborough Air Show in June 1946, with the Martin-Baker MB 5, a design he considered as a superlative piston-engined fighter, better in many ways than the Spitfire.
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Serial production, had it been authorised, would have begun in time for squadron service over Germany. Instead, the RAF directed their attention towards jet-powered fighters and the MB 5 remained unordered. Perhaps one of the reasons that the MB 5 did not go into production, was because the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine failed when the MB 5 was being demonstrated to Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, the Chief of the Air Staff and a host of other VIPs at an important display of British and captured German aircraft at Farnborough.[7] Another reason, stated by Michael Bowyer, is that Martin-Baker may have lacked both facilities and sufficient government support.[8] The company's slow progress with the machine could have been due to a lack of facilities.[5]
The original MB 5 was reputedly destroyed on a gunnery range . Martin-Baker went on to become one of the world's leading builders of ejection seats.
Replica construction
A partial replica is being built in Reno, Nevada, USA by John Marlin using wings from a P-51 Mustang.[9] The website stated in 2006 that it was nearing completion, and as of 2010, an undated entry shows a photograph of the aircraft taxiing and says that it is nearing completion.
Specifications (MB 5, as designed)
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Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II[6] and British Aircraft of World War II[10]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.5 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m)
- Height: 15 ft 0 in (4.5 m)
- Wing area: 262 ft² (24.3 m²)
- Empty weight: 9,233 lb (4,188 kg)
- Loaded weight: 11,500 lb (5,216 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 12,090 lb (5,484 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Griffon 83 liquid-cooled V-12 engine, 2,340 hp (1,745 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 460 mph (740 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Range: 1,100 mi (1,770 km)
- Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
- Rate of climb: 3,800 ft/min (19.3 m/s)
Armament
- Guns: 4× 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannon
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
- Notes
- 1 2 Brown 1983, pp. 150–153.
- ↑ Baugher, Joe. "Martin-Baker MB 5." Aircraft of the World, 19 November 1995. Retrieved: 9 April 2006.
- ↑ MB 5 Martin-Baker History. Retrieved: 9 April 2006.
- ↑ 'Sir James Martin' Sarah Sharman ISBN 1 85260 551 0
- 1 2 Buttler 2004, p. 31.
- 1 2 Jane 1946, pp. 129–130.
- ↑ Donald 1997, pp. 150–157.
- ↑ Bowyer 1984, pp. 124–125.
- ↑ Marlin, Paul D. "John's First Flying Adventures." John Marlin's MB5 replica website (johnmarlinsmb5replica.mysite.com). Retrieved: 5 May 2010.
- ↑ Teeuwen, Jaap. "Martin-Baker MB 5". British Aircraft of World War II. Retrieved: 9 April 2006.
- Bibliography
- Bowyer, Michael J.F. Interceptor Fighters for the Royal Air Force 1935–45. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1984. ISBN 0-85059-726-9.
- Buttler, Tony. Secret Projects: British Fighters and Bombers 1935–1950 (British Secret Projects 3). Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-85780-179-2.
- Brown, Captain Eric. Wings of the Weird & Wonderful, Volume 1. London: Airlife, 1983. ISBN 0-906393-30-2.
- Donald, David. "Martin-Baker Fighters." Wings of Fame, Vol. 9, 1997, Aerospace Publishing Ltd., ISSN 1361-2034.
- Green, William, ed. "Mr. Martin's Memorable M.B.5." Air International Vol. 16, no. 2, February 1979.
- Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Fighters, Volume Two. London, Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961.
- Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Fact Files: RAF Fighters, Part 2. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-354-01234-7.
- Jane, Fred T. "The Martin-Baker F.18/39." Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
- Zuk, Bill. Janusz Zurakowski: Legends in the Sky. St. Catharine's, Ontario: Vanwell, 2004. ISBN 1-55125-083-7.
External links
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