Martin XB-51
The Martin XB-51 was an American trijet ground-attack aircraft. It was designed in 1945 and made its maiden flight in 1949. It was originally designed as a bomber for the United States Army Air Forces under specification V-8237-1 and was designated XA-45. The “A” ground-attack classification was eliminated the next year, and the XB-51 designation was assigned instead. The requirement was for low-level bombing and close support. The XB-51 lost out in evaluation to the English Electric Canberra which – built by Martin – entered service as the Martin B-57 Canberra.
Martin XB-51 Under Construction 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
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Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
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Martin XB-51 
Both Martin XB-51s in Flight 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 April 1953 Edwards Air Force Base 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 take off (no RATO). (U.S. Air Force photo) 
Martin XB-51 rocket-assisted take off. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
Martin XB-51 landing. Note the drag chute is nearly fully opened and the aircraft is still a few feet off the runway. (U.S. Air Force photo) 
Both Martin XB-51s. 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 (S/N 46-686) with drag chute. Note that the XB-51s are easily distinguished: the first aircraft had a large test pitot tube probe on the lower forward fuselage, and the second aircraft did not. Also the forward fuselage XB-51 logo is centered vertically on the first aircraft and much lower on the second. 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
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Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 March 1950 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 Undercarriage 
Martin XB-51 Undercarriage 
Martin XB-51 Bomb Bay 
Martin XB-51 Bombs 
Martin XB-51 Bomb Bay 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51 
Martin XB-51
