This strange-looking tandem gear, mounted on a U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26 Marauder, is the Glenn L. Martin Co.'s answer to a problem of stowing heavy, bulky landing gears in the thinner wings required for new multi-jet planes. Two main wheels, fore and aft of the wing, retract into the fuselage, while smaller outrigger wheels on either wing will aid the pilot in balancing the plane while taxiing. Here, the small wheels are located in the engine nacelles. On jet planes, they will be on the wing tips. Burning rubber and deep skid marks at the Glenn L. Martin Middle River Airport indicate the severe tests to which the new type tandem gear was put by Martin test pilots.
Type Number built/
converted Remarks
XB-26H 1 (cv) Tandem landing gear test aircraft
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: None
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 Double Wasp radials of 2,000 hp each (takeoff power)
Maximum speed: 283 mph at 5,000 ft.
Cruising speed: 216 mph
Range: 1,100 miles with 4,000 lbs. bomb load
Service ceiling: 19,800 ft.
Span: 71 ft. 0 in.
Length: 56 ft. 1 in.
Height: 20 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 38,200 lbs. (maximum)
Crew: Two
Serial number: 44-68221
