Glenn L. Martin P6M-2 SeaMaster
Glenn L. Martin Company · United States · first flew 1955 · bomber
The Martin P6M SeaMaster was an ambitious jet-powered flying boat designed for the US Navy to deliver nuclear weapons from the sea, capable of transonic speeds that made it the fastest operational flying boat ever built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 40.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Jet-powered flying boat designed for nuclear strike
- Four Pratt & Whitney J75 turbojets buried in wing roots
- T-tail with high-set stabilizer above spray
Unmistakable as a large swept-wing jet flying boat with four engine nacelles blended into the high wing roots, a distinctive T-tail, and a smooth stepped hull—no contemporary flying boat approaches its size or jet configuration.
Specifications
- The Glenn L. Martin P6M-2 SeaMaster has a length of 40.8 m (134 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 32 m (105 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1040 km/h (646 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in response to a 1951 Navy requirement for a jet seaplane minelayer and nuclear strike platform, the SeaMaster first flew in July 1955. Two XP6M-1 prototypes crashed during testing, but the improved YP6M-1 and production P6M-2 overcame most handling problems before the programme was cancelled in 1959 as submarine-launched ballistic missiles made the concept redundant.
Variants
The series comprised two XP6M-1 prototypes, six YP6M-1 pre-production aircraft, and eight P6M-2 production machines before cancellation; the P6M-2 introduced J75 engines replacing the earlier J71s.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; all eight P6M-2s were scrapped after cancellation, leaving no survivors. The programme cost approximately $400 million before it was terminated.
Related aircraft
- Martin P6M SeaMaster
- Martin XP6M-1 SeaMaster
- Martin P5M-2 Marlin
- Martin B-57 Canberra
- Boeing B-52D Stratofortress
- Convair NB-36H
- Ilyushin Il-54
- Beriev Be-10
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