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

52 pages. library sticker on spine - no other markings, private collector The Martin Model 262 was an unconventional turboprop VTOL aircraft proposal s ubmitted to the US Navy's convoy fighter competition of 1950, which ultimately p roduced the Convair XFY-1 Pogo and Lockheed XFV-1 Salmon. It was a swept-wing ai rcraft with triple vertical tails powered by an Allison XT-40-A-8 turboprop engi ne driving 16 ft contra-rotating propellers. The launch and recovery system cons isted of a hinged vertical platform mounted on a merchant ship; the pilot approa ched the platform from the side and hovered vertically just in front of it, atta ching 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 de signed 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 o f which were even more unorthodox than the main proposal. Finally, the book exam ines the Model 262P, a handsome scale demonstrator designed to verify the basic soundness of the concept. This 52 page publication features 56 illustrations, in cluding detailed schematics, artist's impressions, and speculative color profile s of these remarkable secret aircraft projects. It is printed in color throughou t 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 devot ed to the Goodyear GA-28A/B, which is still available from bookstores worldwide.…