General Motors TBM-3E Avenger

History

The Quonset Air Museum’s Avenger was acquired from Hick & Lawrence Aerial Applicators, Ontario, Canada, where it had been used as a Spruce Bud Worm Sprayer. The aircraft made a forced landing in the north west Maine wilderness due to engine problems in May 1972, where it sat until the Quonset Air Museum learned of it’s existence in 1989.
The Quonset Air Museum’s Historic Aircraft Recovery Team made four expeditions to the crash site to prepare the aircraft for recovery.
On September 18, 1991, the Connecticut Army National Guard airlifted the TBM out of the Maine wilderness with a CH-54B Skycrane helicopter and was flown to Presque Isle, Maine airport for transportation to the Quonset Air Museum.

Specifications

Description

Manufacturer: General Motors (Eastern Aircraft Division)
Designation: TBM
Version: -3E
Nickname: Avenger
Type: Torpedo Bomber
Navy Bureau Number: 53914

Dimensions

Length: 40 ft 11 in
Height: 16 ft 5 in
Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in
Wing area: 490 Sq. Ft

Weights

Empty Weight: 10545 lbs.
Gross Weight: 14160 lbs.
Max. Weight: 17895 lbs.

Propulsion

Number of Engines: 1
Power plant: Wright R2600-20
Horsepower: 1900 hp

Performance

Range: 1130 miles
Cruise Speed: 147 mph
Max Speed: 276 mph
Climb: 2060 Ft/min
Ceiling: 30100 Ft

Armament

Two fixed 50 cal. Machine guns in outer wings.
One 50 cal. Machine-gun in powered turret.
One 30 cal. Machine-gun in rear ventral stinger position.
Bomb bay provisions for one (1) Mk.13 aerial torpedo.
One 2000 lb. or four 500-lb bombs or depth charges.

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