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The Martin Model 234 was designed originally to meet a US Army Air Force requirement for a close-support bomber, being allocated the designation XA-45. However, it was developed instead as a medium bomber with turbojet power-plant and two prototypes were ordered under the designation XB-51. A cantilever mid-wing monoplane with swept wings and tail surfaces, it was powered by three 2640kg thrust General Electric J47-GE-7 or -13 turbo-jets, one pylon-mounted low on each side of the forward fuselage and the third within the rear fuselage. Other features included pressurised accommodation for the two-man crew, provisi-sions for JATO (jet-assisted take-off) units, and a braking parachute. The first was flown in 1949, but no production order resulted, despite outstanding reliability and handling.
 | A three-view drawing (452 x 748) |
| ENGINE | 3 x 2360kg General Electric J47-GE-13 |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 25393 kg | 55982 lb |
| Empty weight | 13431 kg | 29610 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 16.18 m | 53 ft 1 in |
| Length | 25.93 m | 85 ft 1 in |
| Height | 5.28 m | 17 ft 4 in |
| Wing area | 50.91 m2 | 547.99 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 1038 km/h | 645 mph |
| Cruise speed | 857 km/h | 533 mph |
| Ceiling | 12344 m | 40500 ft |
| Range | 2576 km | 1601 miles |
Bob Davis, oji413(@)aol.com, 09.06.2008
I was crew chief on the xb-51 at Edwards AFB in 1955. The xb-51 crashed in El Paso Texas in 1956 killing all on board/ 2 people
Terence John Hunt, tjh34(@)gmx.de, 17.02.2008
Outstanding reliability and handling?????????
In a direct comparison contest, the English Electric "Canberra" twin engined jet bomber flew rings around the B51, and was awarded the USAF contract. It was built in relatively large numbers by Martin as the B-57.
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