MARTIN-BAKER MB 3

Using lessons learned from the previous 'MB1' and 'MB2', Martin-Baker developed a new design, the 'MB3', a very heavily armed fighter with six 20mm cannon. The crash of the prototype fatally injured Captain Baker and the redesigned Martin-Baker MB5 was not produced past the prototype stage. Martin-Baker went on to be a world leader in the production of ejection seats.

Contents

Design and development

Testing and evaluation

Legacy

Specifications (MB3)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

James Martin and Captain Valentine Henry Baker capitalized on the design and construction of the two previous low-wing monoplanes (MB1 and MB2) to develop a new design, the MB3, which was powered by a 2,000 hp Napier Sabre 24-cylinder, H-type engine, driving a de Havilland variable-pitch three-blade propeller.
The MB3 was projected to meet an Air Ministry fighter specification. Armed with six 20-mm cannon mounted in the wings, each with 200 rounds of ammunition, which made it the most heavily armed fighter in existence at the time. In an effort to ensure the armament installation was easily accessible from an operational point of view, the MB3 was capable of a quick turnaround.
While retaining the essential characteristics of the earlier designs, MB3 included many new features: the fuselage primary structure was still the round steel tube arrangement, but metal panels had taken the place of wood and fabric of earlier models. The wing construction integrated torsion-box construction and a laminated steel spar, giving a strong and stiff structure with minimum flexing.
The careful attention to detail extended to a Martin designed pneumatically controlled undercarriage that was simple, sturdy, effective and reliable. With the wing flaps also pneumatically operated, the need for hydraulics, with all their attendant operational hazards and maintenance problems, was eliminated. Underwing radiators had the coolant radiator on the starboard and the oil-cooler on the port side.

Testing and evaluation

Following its successful first flight undertaken by Capt. Baker, the next series of test flights revealed the MB3 to be highly manoeuvrable and easy to fly. However, on 12 September 1942, the engine failed soon after takeoff and Captain Baker, in an attempt to save the aircraft while executing a difficult forced landing, crashed in a field and was killed.
Despite the loss of the sole prototype, the MB3 design was not abandoned and Martin decided to design the 'MB4' powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine. This project was eventually dropped in favour of an entirely new design, which became the 'MB5'.

Legacy

The MB3 design could have been developed into a good fighter aircraft and it was a double tragedy when both the aircraft and its test pilot were lost. James Martin felt the personal loss of his best friend and partner and "many consider that it was this painful tragedy that really fired the passionate interest in the safety of aircrews, which was later to become the very pivot of his life." Teeuwen, Jaap. "Martin-Baker MB 5". ''British Aircraft of World War II''. [1] Access date: 9 April 2006. He devoted the remainder of his life to the invention and development of the successful Martin-Baker ejection seats (the company retained the name Martin-Baker as a tribute to their lost co-founder).

Specifications (MB3)

References

★ ''British Aircraft of World War II: M.B.3''. M.B.3. Access date: 8 June 2007.

★ Bowyer, Michael J.F. ''Interceptor Fighters for the Royal Air Force 1935-45''. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1984. ISBN 0-85059-726-9.

★ Green, William. ''War Planes of the Second World War: Fighters, Volume Two''. London, Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961.

★ Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. ''WW2 Fact Files: RAF Fighters, Part 2''. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-354-01234-7.

★ Jane, Fred T. “The Martin-Baker F.18/39.” ''Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II''. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.

External links

★ MB3

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