Martin 2-0-2

Martin 2-0-2
Type	airliner
Manufacturer	Glenn L. Martin Company
Maiden flight	November, 1946
Introduced	August, 1947
Retired	about 1975
Status	retired, 1 left in a museum
Primary users	Northwest Orient Airlines LAN (Chile) United Airlines Eastern Airlines
Number built	56
Variants	Martin 4-0-4

The Martin 2-0-2 was one of the first of the modern airliners. The twin-engined piston aircraft was designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Glenn Martin, president of the company, intended that the Model 202 would be a replacement for the DC-3. It was also known as the "Martin Executive".

The first flight of the Model 2-0-2 was in November 1946. Full civilian certification was gained in August 1947. This was several months before competing aircraft types. The total production of 2-0-2's and 2-0-2a's (the commercial designations) was about 50 aircraft.

The Martin Company designated the following quantities for the airlines (though not all were built), listed by Martin Model number:

• 2-0-2 - twin engine prototype: 3, in 1946
• 2-0-2FL - twin engine commercial transport, Chile: 4, in 1947
• 2-0-2NW - twin engine commercial transport, Northwest Airlines: 25, in 1947
• 2-0-2LAV - twin engine commercial transport, Venezuela: 2, in 1947
• 2-0-2A - twin engine commercial transport, Trans World Airlines: 21, in 1947
• 2-0-2E - twin engine commercial transport, Eastern Airlines: 25, in 1947

The aircraft had a top speed of 275 miles per hour, was designed to carry 40 passengers and a flight crew of 3 (pilot, copilot/navigator/radio operator and flight steward). Its maximum range was 1,550 miles.

The aircraft was non-pressurized but was considered a long range airliner. A fatal crash in 1948 revealed a serious structural problem in the wings. Structural metal fatigue was the problem in a major wing spar. Alloy 7075-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.

Airlines

TWA and Northwest eventually sold their Martin 202A's, to California Central and Pioneer Airlines. Later, Allegheny Airlines acquired many of the 202's as part of the company's expansion plans, beginning June 1, 1955. Eventually they acquired a total of 18 aircraft.

Only one of this type of aircraft is known to survive, at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey.

This airliner type was eventually developed into the Martin 4-0-4, which was far more successful.

Specifications

The aircraft's maximum speed was 280 miles per hour with a cruising speed was 254 miles per hour. Stall speed was 100 knots (clean) and 90 knots (full flaps). The aircraft was powered by two 2,000 HP Pratt & Whitney R-2800 double Wasps. Hamilton Standard propellors were used on the aircraft.

The aircraft was 74 feet 7 inches in length, 28 feet 5 inches high and had a wingspan of 93 feet 3 inches. The wing area was 864 square feet.

The empty weight was 22,500 pounds; 36,500 pounds fully loaded. The payload was 8,000 to 9,500 pounds with a useful load of 14,000 pounds.

External links

• First Martin 202 crash due to metal fatigue. - Aviation Safety Network
• Martin Airliners - Maryland Aviation Museum
• US Airways: A Heritage Story

Related content

Related development

• Martin 4-0-4

Related lists
Template:Active military aircraft of the United States