|
Description
| Manufacturer: | Martin | |
| Base model: | P6M | |
| Designation: | P6M | |
| Version: | -1 | |
| Nickname: | Seamaster | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Navy / Marines | |
| Designation Period: | 1923-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Patrol | |
| Crew: | 4 | |
Specifications
| Length: | 134' | 40.8 m | |
| Height: | 31' | 9.4 m | |
| Wingspan: | 100' | 30.4 m | |
| Wingarea: | 1,900.0 sq ft | 176.5 sq m | |
| Gross Weight: | 150,000 lb | 68,027 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 4 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney J57-P-2 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 17,500 lb | 7,936 kg | |
Performance
| Cruise Speed: | 150 mph | 241 km/h | 130 kt |
| Max Speed: | 633 mph | 1,019 km/h | 550 kt |
Known serial numbers
Recent comments by our visitors
| Don Henry Titusville, FL | I heard from a retired Navy friend that a Seamaster sat in the woods at NAS Memphis years ago. Does anyone have any information on this? 07/20/2008 @ 14:01 [ref: 22187] |
| Don Henry Titusville, FL | I heard from a retired Navy friend that a Seamaster sat in the woods at NAS Memphis years ago. Does anyone have any information on this? 07/20/2008 @ 14:00 [ref: 22186] |
| John C. Busler , AL | I was on the USS Preserver (ARS-8) that was called to scene in Patuxant River, MD. to assist in recovering the XP6M Seamaster. Left Norfolk December 7, returned March 7, when the stabalizing bar was found. 06/18/2007 @ 18:50 [ref: 16878] |
| NAT KOBITZ BALTIMORE, MD | Just a few, random thoughts that may be of interest. I was the experimental aerodynamicist/hydrodynamicist on P6M from 1953 to 1957; first at Cornell Aero lab and later at Martin. I had a part in most of the wind tunnel and tank work. I flew one flight with Bob Turner (later killed in a crash of a B-57). She did Mach .91 at 1000 ft. She flew like a homesick angel, but had a takeoff porpoise bobble from 80 to 110 kts. due to afterbody roach. This was cured by my friend, Dick Adams, who added 2" high chevrons aft of the step to increase flow separation. The plane fell victim to a battle between the sub boys, who wanted its minelaying mission, and the carrier boys who wanted the seaplane tender money for carriers. The aerodynamicist on the Seamaster was Jim Decker, who, unfortunately, passed away from a stroke, December, 2006. I would love to hear from any of the old guys who are still around.
NAT KOBITZ 02/06/2007 @ 11:43 [ref: 15435] |
| R. P.PARKER AKA BOB OAKLAND, CA | I WAS EMPLOYED AS AIR PORT MECHANIC AT GLENN MARTINS MIDDLE RIVER MD TEST AIRPORT FACILITY FROM JUNE 1958 TO AUGUST 1959.ASSIGNED TO THE ENGIN CREW ON SHIP#2 UNDER PAUL COOPER 2ND SHIFT SUPERVISOR. HEFFNER CREW CHIEF. RALF HENDRIX(KEMO)CHEIF ENGIN MECHANIC.THIS A/C WAS POWERED BY ALLISON J71 WITH AFTER BURNERS AS WAS SHIP#1&3 NUMBER FOUR THU #9 WERE POWERED BY PRAT&WHITNEYS TWIN EAGLE J57S WITH AFTER BURNERS THE NACELLS WERE CANTLEVERED TO THE AIR FRAME SO AS TO DIRECT TRUST AND BLAST AWAY FROM FLYING TAIL AND AIR FRAME.THE MINE BAY WAS CAPEABLE OF CARRYING 10EA 2000LB MINES OR BEING EQUIPPED AS A AIR TO AIR REFUELING TANKER WITH DROUG CHUTE AND TANKER HOSE WITH BLADDER TANKS.I ASSISTED WITH ENGIN INSTALLATION AND TEST ON AND OFF A/C TEST CELL AND NOISE SUPRESSION GROUND TESTS THU ONE OF THE WORST WINTERS ON RECORD. I WAS PRESENT WHEN ADMIRAL HYMAN RICKOVER CAME TO WITNESS THE SECOND FLIGHT OF SHIP #4 THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST 1959. THE TEST PILOT IN CHARGE WAS C.H. D. CORB JOHNSON A HUGE CAREFULL MAN. THE OXYGEN REGULATOR WAS NOT TO HIS LIKEING AND THE FLIGHT WAS SCRUBBED WITH THE ADMIRAL SITTING IN HIS CADDY LIMO. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE PROGRAM WAS CANCELLED IN FAVOR OF THE NUCULAR SUB AND NUCULAR MISTLE PROGRAMS HEADED BY RICKOVER. SHIP#9 HAD JUST ARRIVED ON STRAWBERRY POINT. SHIPS#5-6-7-8 WERE STILL UNDER ASSEMBLEY AT MAIN PLANT.THE BEACHING VEHICLE WAS A PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE FOUL WEATHER DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE SIGHT OF THE AIR PLANE WITH THE CHASE PLANE A RB47 OVER THE STRAWBERRY FACILITY WAS A JOYFULL SIGHT. HATS OFF FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ASSEMBLED AND FLEW THIS GREAT AIRCRAFT. 08/16/2006 @ 01:04 [ref: 13896] |
| Mike Zacharko , MO | I witnessed the takeoff of the seamaster on two occassions. I was about 12-13 years old and fishing on my uncle's boat in the Chesapeake bay. On the first observed takeoff, the aircraft engines were aligned parallel to the axis of the body. The second takeoff I witnessed the aircraft engines were angled outward away from the body at the exhaust end. On each occassion I was about 5-6 hundred yards from the plane as it taxied out into the bay. Once further out, it increased thrust and lifted off. The power of the engines (and noise level) was incredible as the plywood hull of the cabin cruiser felt like it was shaking apart. I remember a considerable amount of smoke(exhaust)when the plane was lifting off. I saw the plane in flight on several other occassions while at play. In each observation it was flying low,over my home, headed toward the bay (about 17 miles away). 06/05/2002 @ 18:05 [ref: 5056] |
| Renny Chesapeake, VA | There is an article about this aircraft, with a b/w photo in the "Navy Times" newspaper of 22 October 2001 on page 38. 10/24/2001 @ 14:26 [ref: 3467] |
Recent photos uploaded by our visitors
