TheMartin 2-0-2 was a low-wing, all-metal, twin piston-engined American airliner designed and built by theGlenn L. Martin Company. Introduced in 1947, the 40 passenger unpressurized aircraft was powered byPratt & Whitney R-2800 CA-18 Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooledradial engine, and cruised at 255 knots.
Glenn L. Martin, president of the company, intended that the Model 2-0-2 would be a replacement for theDouglas DC-3. It was also known as the "Martin Executive".
The first flight of the model was in November 1946. Full civilian certification was gained in August 1947, several months before competing aircraft types. The total production of 2-0-2s and 2-0-2As was 47 aircraft.[1]
The aircraft was not pressurized, but was considered a long-range airliner. The fatal crash in 1948 ofNorthwest Airlines Flight 421 revealed a serious structural problem in the wings. Structuralmetal fatigue was the problem in a major wing spar. Aluminum alloy7075-T6 was used, which is susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking and low toughness. The airliner was grounded and modifications were made. The wing components were redesigned and the engines replaced. The changed type was designated the Martin 2-0-2A.
Japan Airlines Martin 2-0-2 "Mokusei" (1951)FormerTWA Martin 2-0-2A of Southeast Airlines (Florida) atMiami in 1970
On November 13, 1945Pennsylvania Central Airlines purchased a fleet of 35 Martin 2-0-2s from the Glenn Martin Company for $7,000,000.[2] Two weeks later,Colonial Airlines announced that they would purchase 20 airplanes for $4,000,000, scheduled for delivery in 1947.[3] Early in the next year, Martin announced that Pennsylvania Central Airlines had ordered 15 more 2-0-2s, bringing the total aircraft on order in early January 1947 to 137 aircraft, with a sales value of $27,000,000.[4] Despite the announcement of these large orders, the contract terms allowed the airlines to cancel them without any penalty.[5] The 2-0-2 was unpressurised, unlike the competingConvair 240. Therefore, as delays in production built up, all airlines except Northwest,TWA, LAN, and LAV cancelled their orders and only 31 2-0-2s and 12 2-0-2As were actually delivered to the airlines.[5] The first scheduled flight was on Northwest between Minneapolis and Chicago on 13 October 1947.
The 2-0-2 was the first airplane subjected to the U.S.Civil Aeronautics Administration's then-new "Accelerated Service Test," introduced May 15, 1947. In this test, an airliner was to undergo a rigorous 150-hour test, attempting to squeeze one year's service into a week to 10 days of flying. The 2-0-2 made such a test visiting about 50 cities in seven days. At each city, comprehensive inspections were made of the aircraft systems to assess how wear or malfunction would occur.[6]
13 October 1950 – A Northwest Orient 2-0-2 crashed on a training flight atAlmelund, Minnesota, with six fatalities.[1][14]
7 November 1950 – Northwest Orient Flight 115 crashed into a mountain nearButte,Montana, United States, with 21 fatalities.[1][15]
16 January 1951 – Northwest Orient Flight 115 crashed with 10 fatalities nearReardan,Washington, United States, after a sudden unexplained loss of control during cruise.[16][1][17]
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1951–52[23]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity:
40 passengersor
9,270 lb (4,200 kg) payload
Length: 71 ft 4 in (21.74 m)
Wingspan: 93 ft 3 in (28.42 m)
Height: 28 ft 5 in (8.66 m)
Wing area: 864 sq ft (80.3 m2)
Empty weight: 25,086 lb (11,379 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 39,900 lb (18,098 kg)
Powerplant: 2 ×Pratt & Whitney R-2800 CA-18 Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooledradial engine, 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) each (Normal power), 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) (take-off with water injection)
Propellers: 3-bladedHamilton Standard 2H17K3-48R, 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 311 mph (501 km/h, 270 kn) at 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
Cruise speed: 293 mph (472 km/h, 255 kn) at 12,000 ft (3,700 m)
Stall speed: 76 mph (122 km/h, 66 kn)
Range: 635 mi (1,022 km, 552 nmi) 36 passengers, baggage and 1,000 lb (450 kg) cargo, reserves for 200 mi (170 nmi; 320 km) plus 45 minutes
