Evening star., 1937-04-05
MARTIN PLANNING
OWN OCEAN LINE
Pioneer Designer Surprises
Industry-Wou|d Use New
"Super- Clipper"
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

and builder of such famous types OF
airplanes as the giant clipper flying
boats now flying the Pacific and the
Army Bio bombardment planes which
have been making military history for
three wears. today filed with the Com
merce Department informal notice Of
his intention to establish a nonstop
transatlantic air transport service.
Martin signified his intention OF 60
ing into the ocean service, in competl-
ton with Pan-American AirWays and
British Imperial Always, now pre-
pairing to establish joint service be-
tween the United States and England.
For this service, Martin notified
Assistant Secretary of Commerce j..
Monroe johnson, he has designed the
worlds largest transport flying boat.
This giant aircraft will be capable of
carrying 40 passengers, 5000 pounds
of mail, express and light cargo and
fuel sufficient for 5000 miles of non-
stop flight. This would give range
1900 miles greater than the great
circle route across the Atlantic, he
said.
Less Than 10 Hours.
This "super-clipper" would have an
average speed Of ITS miles per hour
at only 5312 per cent of its total en-
gine power, Martin informed Col.
johnson. Such a cruising speed would
permit eastbound service from the
United States to continental Europe
AZ rooi1o +
bound service, against the prevailing
winds, in 81 hours.
Martin, who now is president OF
the Glenn L. Martin Co., which oper-
ates large airplane construction
plant near Baltimore, said that he is
organizing another company to ham
die the ocean air transport service
and that in the near future he expects
slis company to become a factor in
the rapidly developing transatlantic
air transportation picture.
Last week Col. johnson sent to
the Canadian government letter ap-
proving the designation of New York
and Montreal as bases for the joint
Pan-American-Impe service. Pan
American AirWays now is building al
tentative 'badweather bases" at Bal
timore and Charleston, S. c.
Ships Ready to Pioneer.
Imperial Airways has large ocean,
type flying boat at Bermuda in readi-
ness to undertake experimental opera
ton to New York and Montreal and
has two sister ships, one at a trans
Atlantic base tablished in Ireland
near the mouth of the River Shannon
and the other in England. These two
ships are soon to pioneer the northern
route to Canada and the United
States.
Pan-American and Imperial are
planning alternative routes, one by
way of Iceland, Greenland and New
foundland and the other by way of
the Azores and Bermuda
Martins decision to enter the ocean
transport field came as surprise
here. Although Martin has been a
world leader in aviation since about
1915, this will be his first large venture
In the field of airplane operations.
Martins fame was gained as an
airplane designer and builder and he
has produced virtually every type OF
Army, Navy and commercial aircraft
during his long career. His noted
Martin bomber of the late World War
period was the standard bombardment
airplane of the Army for many years
and was used in such operations as the
sinking OF the surrendered German
battleship Ostfriesland and smaller
ships in tests which were in part re-
sponsible for the controversy which
tore the Army and Navy and resulted
in the court-martial trial Of the late
Brig. Gen William Mitchell.
Bio Bomber Makes History.
His more recent Bio bomber, the
first Of the new high-speed types which
have resulted in rewriting of the tao
tics of the Army Air Corps and estab-
fishing Of the bombardment type as
the backbone of the Nations air de-
fenSes, also has figured in many
notable achievements. Ten of these
new Martins made history in the
round-trip flight from Washington to
Alaska led by Brig. Gen Henry H.
Arnold. More recently they have par
ticipated in one-stop formation flights
from Langley Field, Va, to Panama
and return. Two squadrons of these
ships now have made the Panama
cruise.
Three Martin clippers now are being
operated by Pan-American Always
across the Pacific from San Francisco
to Hong Kong, China They are four
engined aircraft, with a wing span of
about 130 feet and are the largest ever
built.
The Pacific clippers, however, will
be dWarfed by the new giant designed
by Martin for the Atlantic service.
The assembly section of the Martin
plant now is being enlarged to permit
construction of the new ships, details
Of which have not yet been made
public.