Martin Model 262 Convoy Fighter: The Naval VTOL Turboprop Project of 1950 - Softcover

Jared A. Zichek

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0996875409 ISBN 13: 9780996875400

Publisher: Retromechanix Productions, 2015

Synopsis

The Martin Model 262 was an unconventional turboprop VTOL aircraft proposal submitted to the US Navy's convoy fighter competition of 1950, which ultimately produced the Convair XFY-1 Pogo and Lockheed XFV-1 Salmon. It was a swept-wing aircraft with triple vertical tails powered by an Allison XT-40-A-8 turboprop engine driving 16 ft contra-rotating propellers. The launch and recovery system consisted of a hinged vertical platform mounted on a merchant ship; the pilot approached the platform from the side and hovered vertically just in front of it, attaching the aircraft to the platform with a retractable nosegear spike and landing on two small wing gear. The fighter was armed with four 20 mm cannon and was designed to protect convoy vessels from enemy air attack. In addition to the basic Model 262, Martin also presented Modifications A, B and C, the configurations of which were even more unorthodox than the main proposal. Finally, the book examines the Model 262P, a handsome scale demonstrator designed to verify the basic soundness of the concept. This 52 page publication features 56 illustrations, including detailed schematics, artist's impressions, and speculative color profiles of these remarkable secret aircraft projects. It is printed in color throughout on heavy paper stock and has a full color glossy cover. This is the publisher's second book covering the convoy fighter competition, the first one being devoted to the Goodyear GA-28A/B, which is still available from bookstores worldwide.

About this title

About the Author:

Jared A. Zichek is a freelance writer and artist specializing in aviation history.

Review:

"In this book, the author covers every known aspect of the Model 262 and includes a wealth of engineering drawings of the aircraft in question. The three alternate proposals are also covered in detail as are the various methods of landing and taking off from a ship. There are artist's impressions of these aircraft as well as full color profiles of what might have been. It makes for a fascinating look into what might have been and sheds some light on a little known aviation project."-ModelingMadness.com

"If you're an aviation enthusiast or modeler that enjoys looking at the 'what-if' side of aviation, this monograph is worth adding to your library!"-Cybermodeler.com "The book is packed with plans and cutaway drawings of each of the designs and the launch/landing system, and these contain ample detail to scratch-build models. It all adds up to a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it."-Aeroscale.co.uk

"Like the Goodyear book, Retromechanix put a lot of time and effort into research for the book, and if you have any curiosity about these aircraft then you'll want to track down this series of books."-InternetModeler.com

About this edition

• Publisher: Retromechanix Productions
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0996875409
• ISBN 13: 9780996875400
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 52