Martin Baker MB5              1.4Mb

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SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: Span: 35 ft, Length: 37 ft 9 in, Wing Area: 262 sq ft.

Weights: Empty, Equipped: 9,345 lbs, Gross: 11,500 lbs.

Powerplant: One Rolls Royce Griffon 83 with a two-stage, two-speed supercharger
     producing 2,340 hp at 750 ft with 25 lb/sq in boost.

Propeller: Rotol six-bladed contra-rotating.

Fuel Capacity: 130 Imp gal main tank plus one 70 Imp gal aux tank.

Armament: Two 20mm Hispano cannon in each wing.
 
PERFORMANCE.

Max Speed:    460 mph at 20,000 ft, 405 mph (652 km/h) at 20,500 ft
Cruising Speed:    315 mph IAS at 8,000 ft with +4/2250 rpm.
Approach Speed:    130 mph
Threshold Speed:   115 mph.
Stalling Speed:    95 mph.
Range:     1,240 miles at 225 mph.

THE MODEL.

Test pilot reports state that throttling back the Griffon engine and its Rotol
contra-rotating propellers was similar to the effect of a speed-brake in jet
fighters. As CFS does not adequately simulate propeller drag, I have included
a mild speed-brake in this model. Pressing the "/" key will operate the Speed-Brake.

Although the prototype was fitted with four 20mm Hispano cannon, I have no
information on other proposed armaments. For that reason, I have given this
model one bomb or five air/ground rockets under each wing.

Pressing the 'Shift+3' keys will bring up the RAF662 ADF window.
 

THE AIRCRAFT.

Following the crash of the MB3 in 1942, James Martin used the basic design of that
aircraft and incorporated numerous changes and improvements to produce the prototype
M.B.5. The major changes to the MB5 were:

 1. The use of a Griffon 83 engine driving a Rotol
  conta-rotating propeller replacing the Napier Sabre engine.

 2. The re-positioning of the cockpit 5 feet further forward.

 3. The positioning of a three-unit radiator - intercooler, main
  cooler and oil cooler - in a neat diffuser duct under the rear
  fuselage.

On completion, the prototype was dismantled at Denham, road transported to the
test airfield at Harwell, re-assembled and test flown all in the one day; May 23,
1944.

However, this outstanding fighter could have entered bulk production in 1943 and
have contributed greatly to the air war. But the record shows that clear-cut
decisions were surprisingly rare in wartime Britain with the result that this
fighter was never to enter production

From the outset, all pilots and maintenance personnel were impressed with the
aircraft's excellent flying qualities and the ease with which maintenance tasks
could be performed.

In June 1946, Jan Zurakowski flew the M.B.5 in a big display at RAE Farnborough
in such a way that none who saw it will ever forget. It was, perhaps, the most
impressive display ever performed by a piston-engined fighter and clearly
demonstrated that the M.B.5 was probably the finest piston fighter produced in
Britain.