Martin XB-51
| The XB-51 project originated in an Army Air Forces design competition
in February 1946. After disappointing results with the "conventional" design of the XB-48, Martin produced a strikingly innovative airplane in the XB-51. Two prototype XB-51's were first flown and tested in late 1949 and early 1950, just before the outbreak of war in Korea. The XB-51 had a crew of only two: a pilot and an operator for the navigation and bombing system. It could carry up to 10,495 pounds of bombs and eight forward-firing 20 millimeter cannon. The project was cancelled in 1951. The two prototypes continued to fly by participating in tests of their advanced aerodynamic and weapons-handling features. Both were eventually lost in crashes laid to pilot error. |
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The XB-51 was one of the most advanced medium attack bomber projects of its time .
