Martin 4-0-4 Pacific Air Lines Model Airplane

Item#: FDM-0002

MSRP Price: $299.95

Factory Direct Price: $199.95

Testimonial

Hello Mike:

The Martin model arrived on friday while I was at work. I am very impressed. I have to say I was somewhat sceptical of a wood model based upon some samples I have seen from other suppliers. Your listing photos looked like the model was a reasonably good rendition of the plane type that I had flown on many years ago. The model exceeded my expectations in every way. I could go on and on but you get the idea.

I will be looking to see if you offer the TWA Connie again. If I can afford it I will get one.

Many thanks,
Mike Haywood ( wpmike )

Factory Direct Models introduce this Made to Order Martin 4-0-4 Pacific Air Lines Model Aircraft. This Aviation Collectible Martin 4-0-4 Pacific Air Lines was handcrafted from the finest Philippine Mahogany and was sealed to last for generations. Working from our library of blueprints, reference materials and their exact photographs, Factory Direct Models master artisans recreated this famous commercial aircraft into an amazing detailed Model Airplane Replica.

This Martin 4-0-4 Pacific Air Lines Mahogany Airplane Model comes with a detachable stand, a Laminated Pacific Air Lines Logo and an Inscription Plaque that adds beauty to this collectible commercial aircraft model.

Your model will be made exactly as shown in the photographs. If you would like to change this model in any other way, please visit Our Custom Model Gallery section of our website to commission a personalized model to be built.

Martin 4-0-4 Pacific Air Lines History :

The Martin 4-0-4 is an American pressurized passenger airliner built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. As well as 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).

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). The new aircraft was the Martin 4-0-4, it had structural changes to the wings, pressurization and 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 rear ventral stairs and a retractable tricycle landing gear and was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 radial piston engines.

First deliveries in 1951 were made to Eastern Air Lines (EAL) who had ordered 60 and Trans World Airlines (TWA) who had ordered 40. The only other new aircraft from the production line were delivered to the United States Coast Guard who 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 they had both been withdrawn from use by 1970. A total of 103 aircraft was built at the Glenn L. Martin factory in Baltimore.

TWA operated their 40 4-0-4s under the name "Skyliner" on scheduled services in the eastern part of the USA between 1 September 1950 and the last flight on 29 April 1961. EAL operated their 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.

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 who needed to replace their Douglas DC-3s. One of the last 'major' US airlines with a large fleet of piston engined airliners was Southern Airways who operated 25 model 4-0-4s on a network of scheduled services from Atlanta as at July 1969, mainly ex-Eastern Airlines aircraft. Southern Airways' last 4-0-4 service was flown on 30 April 1978.

The last airworthy 4-0-4, an ex TWA aircraft, was ferried to the Planes of Fame Museum in February 2008, where it is on display together with a Martin 2-0-2.