View source for Martin 4-0-4

{{Short description|Twin-piston-engine US piston airliner, 1950}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=Martin 4-0-4
 |image=Martin 404 N145S Southern Aws ATL 15.04.72 edited-2.jpg
 |caption=Nine Martin 404s of [[Southern Airways]] at [[Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta Airport]] in 1972, being prepared for departure on the morning wave of flights
 |type=Short/medium range airliner
 |manufacturer=[[Glenn L. Martin Company]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=October 21, 1950 <ref name="prop p170">Gunston 1980, p. 170.</ref>
 |introduction=1951
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[Eastern Air Lines]]
 |more_users=[[Trans World Airlines]]
 |produced=1951-1953
 |number_built=103
 |developed_from = [[Martin 2-0-2]]
 |variants=
}}

The '''Martin 4-0-4''' is an American [[Pressurization|pressurized]] passenger [[airliner]] built by the [[Glenn L. Martin Company]]. In addition to airline use initially in the United States, it was used by the [[United States Coast Guard]] and [[United States Navy]] as the '''RM-1G''' (later as the '''VC-3A''').

==Design and development==
When production of the earlier [[Martin 2-0-2]] was stopped due to problems with wing structural failure the company decided to re-wing an improved version (which had already flown as the '''Martin 3-0-3''' in 1947). The new aircraft was the '''Martin 4-0-4'''. It had structural changes to the wings, pressurization and was lengthened slightly to take 40 passengers. Like the earlier 2-0-2, the 4-0-4 was a [[cantilever]] [[monoplane]] with a standard tail unit (cantilever tailplane and single vertical stabilizer). It had an [[airstair]] in the lower tail section for passenger boarding and disembarkation, retractable [[tricycle landing gear]] and was powered by two [[Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp|Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16]] [[radial engine|radial]] piston engines.

==Operational history==
[[File:Martin RM-1Z USCG in flight.JPG|thumb|right|United States Coast Guard RM-1Z/VC-3A.]]

First deliveries in 1951 were made to [[Eastern Air Lines]] (EAL), which had ordered 60, and [[Trans World Airlines]] (TWA), which had ordered 40. The only other new aircraft from the production line were delivered to the [[United States Coast Guard]] which had ordered two as executive transports with the designation '''RM-1G''' later changed to '''RM-1''' and then in 1962 to '''VC-3A'''. In 1969 they were transferred to the United States Navy and were withdrawn from use by 1970. A total of 103 aircraft were built at the [[Glenn L. Martin]] factory in [[Baltimore]].

TWA operated its 40 4-0-4s under the name "Skyliner" on scheduled services between 1 September 1950 and the last flight on 29 April 1961.<ref>Killion 1997, pp. 148–149.</ref> EAL operated its 4-0-4s in the eastern USA using the class name "Silver Falcon". The first EAL schedule was flown on 5 January 1952 and retirement came in late 1962.<ref>Killion 1997, pp. 133–134.</ref>
[[File:Martin 404 Pacific AT Camarillo 03.01.08R.jpg|thumb|right|The restored Martin 404 in 2008 at [[Camarillo Airport]] wearing Pacific Air Transport markings shortly before its last flight to [[Valle Airport]]]] 
Later in their airline career, as they became displaced from the EAL and TWA fleets by turbine-powered aircraft, the 4-0-4s became popular with "second level" operators, known as "local service air carriers" in the U.S. as described and regulated by the federal [[Civil Aeronautics Board]] (CAB), with these airlines needing to replace their [[Douglas DC-3]]s.<ref>Killion 1997, p. 67.</ref> One of the last 'major' US airlines with a large fleet of piston-engined airliners was [[Southern Airways]] which operated 25 model 4-0-4s on a network of scheduled services from [[Atlanta]] in October 1961, all ex-Eastern Airlines aircraft.<ref>Sievers 1969, p. 25.</ref> Southern Airways' last 4-0-4 service was flown on 30 April 1978<ref>Killion 1997. p. 147.</ref> with the air carrier then replacing them with smaller [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner]] "Metro II" turboprops.  This was the last piston-engine airliner flight by any major U.S. air carrier. Martin 4-0-4s were also flown by [[Pacific Air Lines]] (which subsequently merged with [[Bonanza Air Lines]] and [[West Coast Airlines]] to form Air West, which was then renamed [[Hughes Airwest]]), [[Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989)|Piedmont Airlines]] (which operated former [[TWA]] 4-0-4 airliners), [[Ozark Air Lines]] and [[Mohawk Airlines]] during the 1960s.  Most of these planes were replaced in 1968 with [[Fairchild F-27]] and/or [[Fairchild Hiller FH-227|Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B]] turboprop aircraft.

Following their retirement by the aforementioned local service air carriers, a number of 4-0-4s were then operated by several U.S. based commuter and regional airlines including [[Air South (Georgia)|Air South]], [[Atlantic Southeast Airlines]] (ASA), [[Florida Airlines]], [[Marco Island Airways]], [[Provincetown-Boston Airlines]] (PBA) and [[Southeast Airlines]].  Martin 4-0-4s were also used in [[Air Florida Commuter]] feeder service when [[Air Florida]] was operating domestic and international scheduled passenger jet service during the 1970s and 1980s.

In February 2008 the last airworthy 4-0-4, an ex-TWA aircraft, was ferried to the [[Planes of Fame Museum]] in Valle, Arizona.<ref>''[[Airliner World]]'', July 2008, p. 80</ref>

==Operators==
♠ original operators

===Civil===
[[File:Eastern-Martin-404.png|thumb|right|An Eastern Airlines Martin 404 circa 1955]]

;{{BOL}}
;{{COL}}
* Aero Proveedora Proa Ltda
;{{DOM}}
* [[Dominair]]
* Santiago Freighters
;{{HAI}}
;{{MEX}}
;{{PAN}}
;{{USA}}
* [[Air South (Georgia)|Air South]]
* [[Atlantic Southeast Airlines]] (1972–1979)
* [[Eastern Airlines]] (1951–1962) ♠
* [[Florida Airlines]] (1977–1981)
* [[Marco Island Airways]] (1973–1981)
* [[Mohawk Airlines]] (1961–1965)
* [[Ozark Air Lines]] (1964–1967)
* [[Pacific Air Lines]] (1959–1968)
* [[Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989)|Piedmont Airlines]] (1961–1972)
* [[Provincetown-Boston Airlines]] (PBA) (1975–1984)
* Southeast Airlines (1971–1976)
* [[Southern Airways]] (1961–1978)
* [[Trans World Airlines]] ([[TWA]]) (1950–1961) ♠
;{{VEN}}
* Rentavion
[[File:Martin 404 USCG.jpg|thumb|right|United States Coast Guard RM-1 in 1958.]]

===Military===
;{{USA}}
* [[United States Coast Guard]] ♠
* [[United States Navy]]

==Notable accidents and incidents==
* 19 February 1955: [[TWA Flight 260]] crashed into the Sandia Mountains; the three crew and 13 passengers died.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov/Document?db=DOT-AIRPLANEACCIDENTS&query=(select+609)|title=Accident report for Martin 404 N40416 on February 19, 1955|publisher=Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Report|access-date=May 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104856/http://specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov/Document?db=DOT-AIRPLANEACCIDENTS&query=(select+609)|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
* 1 April 1956: [[TWA Flight 400]] crashed on takeoff from Greater Pittsburgh International Airport; 22 of the 36 people aboard the aircraft died.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov/Document?db=DOT-AIRPLANEACCIDENTS&query=(select+629)|title=Accident report for Martin 404 N40403 on April 1, 1956|publisher=Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Report|access-date=May 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085709/http://specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov/Document?db=DOT-AIRPLANEACCIDENTS&query=(select+629)|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
* 2 July 1963: [[Mohawk Airlines Flight 112]] crashed during takeoff from Rochester-Monroe airport, seven people died and 36 were injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov/Document?db=DOT-AIRPLANEACCIDENTS&query=(select+629)|title=Accident report for Martin 404 N449A on July 2, 1963|publisher=Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Report|access-date=May 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085709/http://specialcollection.dotlibrary.dot.gov/Document?db=DOT-AIRPLANEACCIDENTS&query=(select+629)|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
* 30 May 1970:  [[Lehigh Acres, Florida|Lehigh Acres]] Development Inc. Flight 701 crashed near [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], moments after departing from [[DeKalb–Peachtree Airport]], striking a car. One passenger aboard the plane and five people in the car died. Thirty passengers aboard the plane were injured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gendisasters.com/georgia/11910/atlanta-ga-chartered-plane-crashes-may-1970|title=Atlanta, GA Chartered Plane Crashes, May 1970 {{!}} GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods|website=www.gendisasters.com|access-date=2019-02-23|archive-date=2019-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224002159/http://www.gendisasters.com/georgia/11910/atlanta-ga-chartered-plane-crashes-may-1970|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myajc.com/news/local/ajc-archival-photos-1970s-georgia-plane-crashes/aILqQmNc5oxtTudOmx7fhO/|title=AJC archival photos: 1970s Georgia plane crashes|website=myajc|language=en|access-date=2019-02-23}}</ref>
* 2 October 1970: In the [[Wichita State University football team plane crash|Wichita State University Crash]], a charter flight operated by Golden Eagle Aviation crashed near [[Silver Plume, Colorado|Silver Plume]], [[Colorado]]; 31 of the 40 people on board died.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19701002-3 |title=Accident report for Martin 404 N464M on October 2, 1970|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref>

==Surviving aircraft==
* 14119 – Fuselage in storage at [[Fantasy of Flight]] in [[Polk City, Florida]]. It was previously registered as N40415 and is in former Provincetown–Boston Airlines livery.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Henderson|first1=David P.|title=PBA MARTIN 404 N40415 AT FANTASY OF FLIGHT|url=http://www.sunshineskies.com/n40415.html|website=Sunshine Skies|publisher=David P. Henderson|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>
* 14135 – Airworthy at the [[Planes of Fame Air Museum]] in [[Valle, Arizona]]. It is registered as N636X and is in a Pacific Air Lines livery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flying & Static Aircraft|url=http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=static-flying|website=Planes of Fame|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520044311/http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=static-flying|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - Martin 4-0-4, c/n 14135, c/r N636X|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=15988|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAA REGISTRY [N636X]|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N636X|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144506/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N636X|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 14141 – On static display at the [[Mid-Atlantic Air Museum]] in [[Reading, Pennsylvania]]. It was previously registered as N450A and is painted in an Eastern Air Lines livery.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rambow|first1=Bill|title=MARTIN 4-0-4 EASTERN AIRLINES "SILVER FALCON"|url=http://www.maam.org/aircraft/martin404.html|website=Mid-Atlantic Air Museum|access-date=1 April 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211193240/http://www.maam.org/aircraft/martin404.html|archive-date=11 December 2016}}</ref>
* 14142 – On static display at the [[National Airline History Museum]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. It was previously registered as N145S.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin 404 N145S|url=http://www.airlinehistory.org/the-aircraft/martin-404|website=Airline History Museum|access-date=1 April 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402083013/http://www.airlinehistory.org/the-aircraft/martin-404/|archive-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>
* 14143 – Cockpit on static display at the [[National Museum of Commercial Aviation]] in [[Forest Park, Georgia]]. It was previously registered as N9234C.<ref>{{cite web|title=EAL Martin 404 Cockpit|url=http://nationalairlinemuseum.org/aircraft-cockpits-gse/cockpits-sims/91-mohawk-convair-240-0-c-n-147|website=National Museum of Commercial Aviation|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401232455/http://nationalairlinemuseum.org/aircraft-cockpits-gse/cockpits-sims/91-mohawk-convair-240-0-c-n-147|archive-date=1 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - Martin 4-0-4, c/n 14143, c/r N9234C|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=154279|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>
* 14153 – On static display at the [[Pima Air & Space Museum]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]]. It was previously registered as N462M.<ref>{{cite web|title=Skyliner|url=http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft-by-name/item/martin-404-skyliner|website=Pima Air & Space Museum|publisher=Pimaair.org|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401145211/http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft-by-name/item/martin-404-skyliner|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 14158 – Stored at [[Billings Logan International Airport]] in [[Billings, Montana]]. It was previously registered as N974M and is used for fire evacuation training.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier – Martin 4-0-4, c/n 14158, c/r N974M|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=168665|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>
* 14227 – Owned by Harold Sheppard Jr. of [[Riverton, Wyoming]]. It is registered as N461M.<ref>{{cite web|title=FAA Registry|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N461M|website=Federal Aviation Administration|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401145345/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N461M|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 14233 – On static display at the [[Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum]] in [[Middle River, Maryland]]. It was previously registered as N259S, but is painted as N40400, the first 4-0-4 prototype.<ref>{{cite web|title=Strawberry Point Flight Line|url=https://www.mdairmuseum.org/flight-line.html|website=The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144833/https://www.mdairmuseum.org/flight-line.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - Martin 4-0-4, c/n 14233, c/r N259S|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=3448|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>
* 14246 – Stored at the Flying Tigers Airport near [[Paris, Texas]]. It was previously registered as N255S.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airframe Dossier - Martin4-0-4, c/n 14246, c/r N255S|url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=16068|website=Aerial Visuals|publisher=AerialVisuals.ca|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

==Specifications==
[[File:Martin RM-1 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view silhouette drawing of the Martin RM-1]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54<ref name="jawa53 p255-6">Bridgman 1953, pp. 255–256.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=3 or 4
|capacity=40 passengers
|length m=
|length ft=74
|length in=7
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=93
|span in=3
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=28
|height in=5
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=864
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=GLM-W 16
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=29126
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=44900
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp]]-CB16
|eng1 type=18-cylinder two-row air-cooled [[radial engine]]
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=2400<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 note=(take off power), {{convert|1800|hp|kW|abbr=on}} (normal power)
|prop blade number=3<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=Hamilton Standard 2H17K3-48R
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=13<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=2<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=312
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|14500|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=280
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=at {{convert|18000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=81
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=at sea level
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=1080
|range nmi=
|range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=2600
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=29000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1905
|climb rate note=
|more performance=*'''Take-off distance to 50 ft (15 m):''' {{convert|1980|ft|m|abbr=on}}
* '''Landing distance from 50 ft (15 m):''' {{convert|1750|ft|m|abbr=on}}
<!--
        Armament
-->
|armament=<!-- add bulletted list here or if you want to use the following
specific parameters, remove this parameter-->
|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Martin 2-0-2]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[CASA C-207 Azor]]
* [[Convair 240]]
* [[Ilyushin Il-14]]
* [[Saab 90 Scandia]]
* [[Vickers VC.1 Viking]]
|lists=
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
* [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]]
|see also=
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Andrade, John. ''U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909''. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979, pp.&nbsp;95, 217. {{ISBN|0-904597-22-9}}.
*  Breslau, Alan Jeffry ''The Time Of My Death: Story of Miraculous Survival'' (E. P. Dutton, New York 1977) The July 2, 1963 crash of Mowhawk Airlines in Rochester, New York.
* Bridgman, Leonard. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd, 1953.
* [[Bill Gunston|Gunston, Bill]]. ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Propeller Airliners''. Leicester, UK: Windward Imprint, 1980. {{ISBN|0-7112-0062-9}}.
* ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft'' (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
* Killion, Gary L. ''The Martinliners''. Sandpoint ID: Airways International Inc., 1997. {{ISBN|0-9653993-2-X}}.
*{{cite journal |last1=Proctor |first1=Jon |title=TWA's Skyliners: The Martin 2-0-2 and 4-0-4 in TWA Service |journal=The Aviation Historian |date=2019 |issue=29 |pages=58–67 |issn=2051-1930}}
* Sievers, Harry. ''North American Airline Fleets''. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1969. {{ISBN|0-85130-005-7}}.
* Smith, M.J. Jr. ''Passenger Airliners of the United States, 1926–1991''. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1986. {{ISBN|0-933126-72-7}}.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Martin 404}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070302074643/http://www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/history/martin_aircraft/18_airliners.html Martin Airliners] - Maryland Aviation Museum
* [http://www.oldprops.ukhome.net/Martin%20404%20census.htm Martin 202/404 Census] - oldprops.ukhome.net (photos and history also on site)
* [http://www.chriscummings.cc/air/Musuem,%20Flights%20and%20Air%20Shows/Airline%20History%20Musuem%20(Connie,%20404)/Martin%20404/index.html Many detailed close-up photographs of a restored Martin 4-0-4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215240/http://www.chriscummings.cc/air/Musuem,%20Flights%20and%20Air%20Shows/Airline%20History%20Musuem%20(Connie,%20404)/Martin%20404/index.html |date=2011-07-06 }}
* [http://aviation-safety.net/database/dblist.php?Type=341 Aviation Safety Network]
* [http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/c68225748f67fc4a8525672900458e89/$FILE/1a7.PDF Federal Aviation Authority Type Certificate for the Martin 404]

{{Martin aircraft}}
{{USN transports}}
{{US transport aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1950s United States airliners]]
[[Category:Martin aircraft|4-0-4]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1950]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]