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To meet a US Navy requirement for a high-performance multi-role flying-boat, the company offered its very advanced Martin Model 275 design. This had an all-metal hull of high length/beam ratio, mounting a cantilever high-set sharply-swept wing incorporating so much anhe-dral that the stabilising floats at the wirwg-tips could be attached permanently; the tail unit was of T-tail configuration with all-swept surfaces. Above the wing, to minimise spray ingestion, were mounted four Allison turbojet engines, and pressurised accommodation was provided for a crew of five. The first XP6M-1 prototype was flown on 14 July 1955, the second following on 18 May 1956, and Martin received orders for six pre-production YP6M-1 boats powered by Allison J71 turbojets each developing a maximum 5897kg afterburning thrust. Successful flight testing led to an order for 24 production P6M-2 aircraft named SeaMaster, which differed primarily by having 7711kg thrust non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney J75-P-2 turbojet engines. However, the contract was cancelled on 21 August 1959 after only three had been built and these, together
with the YP6M-1s, were scrapped at a later date. They were the fastest flying-boats ever built.
| MODEL | P6M |
| CREW | 4 |
| ENGINE | 4 x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-2 turbojets, 7938kg |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 72575 kg | 160001 lb |
| Payload | 13600kg | 29983 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 30.48 m | 100 ft 0 in |
| Length | 40.84 m | 133 ft 12 in |
| Height | 9.45 m | 31 ft 0 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 965 km/h | 600 mph |
| Ceiling | 12200 m | 40050 ft |
| Range | 4830 km | 3001 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 6 x 12.7mm machine-guns, 1800kg of weapons |
Kretsinger, Victor H., VKRETSINGER(@)bak.rr.com, 25.05.2008 How were weapons loaded while the plane was sittig on the water??? Rick Cotton, cottons(@)comcast.net, 03.05.2008 I briefly flew the P6M in 1954-55 as the Chief Production Test Pilot at The Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore. We were preparing a Training Program for our Navy Customer when,over a period of several months,two Test A/C were lost(I was chasing the first one in a borrowed USAF B-57 which had much longer legs than the FJ-2 that he Navy had provided). This and other more Political factors ended the program. It was quite an experiance and a uniquely advanced concept. Paul, webpa(@)aol.com, 19.07.2007 Any comments on the P6M's resemblance to the "Caspian Sea Monster?"
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Do you have any comments concerning this aircraft ?
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|  COMPANY PROFILE
FACTS AND FIGURES© The cockpit glazing was
modified on later models to
give a much better overhead
and side view. © Ejection seats were fitted to
the second and subsequent
aircraft. These proved useful
when the second SeaMaster
pitched up, went into a
loop and disintegrated. © The intakes were mounted
above the wing to keep them clear of the water spray. © A beaching cradle allowed the
SeaMaster to taxi in and out of
the water under its own power. © The P6M used a rotary bomb bay
(as used on Martin's licence-built
Canberras and the XB-51). This
permitted weapons release at high
speeds without the drag of
conventional bomb doors. © The original position of the engine
exhausts caused stress on the rear
fuselage which resulted in structural
damage. The angle of the exhausts
was adjusted after testing.
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