Martin Model 123
Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1932 · bomber
The Martin Model 123 was the prototype that led directly to the Martin B-10 bomber, the first American all-metal monoplane bomber to enter large-scale production and a revolutionary aircraft of its era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.17 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine light bomber prototype, progenitor of Martin B-10
- Monoplane with internal bomb bay, retractable undercarriage
- Competed in 1932 US Army bomber evaluation
A clean mid-wing twin-engine monoplane with a deep fuselage housing an internal bomb bay, turret in the nose, and retractable main undercarriage — a dramatically modern appearance compared to its biplane contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Martin Model 123 has a length of 13.17 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.49 m (71 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 397 km/h (247 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Martin developed the Model 123 as a private venture in 1932, demonstrating performance superior to any US Army biplane bomber then in service. The aircraft's combination of retractable undercarriage, internal bomb bay, enclosed cockpits, and all-metal construction set a new standard. The Army was sufficiently impressed to order the refined Model 139 (B-10), which entered service in 1934 and earned designer James McDonnell and Martin the Collier Trophy.
Variants
The Model 123 was a one-off prototype; it was refined into the XB-907 / Model 139 that became the B-10; production B-10 and B-12 variants followed in large numbers.
Where you'll see it
The Model 123 itself did not enter service, serving only as a demonstrator; however, it directly spawned the B-10 which served with the US Army Air Corps and was exported to the Netherlands, Argentina, Turkey, and others.
Related aircraft
- Martin 146
- Martin B-10
- Martin P3M-2
- Martin PM-2
- Avions Fairey Fox III
- Blackburn Baffin Mk.I
- Consolidated XB2Y-1
- Dornier Do 11
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