Blériot 111
The Blériot 111 was a French four-seat executive transport monoplane designed by André Herbemont.[1] The first French aircraft to be fitted with a retractable landing gear, after six years development it was not ordered into production.[1]
| Blériot 111 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bleriot 111 | |
| Role | Executive transport monoplane |
| Manufacturer | Blériot Aéronautique |
| Designer | André Herbemont |
| First flight | 24 January 1929 |
| Number built | 2+ |
Design and development
The Bleriot 111 was a low-wing single-engined monoplane with an enclosed passenger cabin and an open cockpit for the pilot forward of the cabin.[1] The first variant was the Bleriot 111/1 which first flew on 24 January 1929 powered by a 280 hp (209 kW) Hispano-Suiza 6Mbr 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line engine.[1] In October 1929 a second variant flew (known as the 111bis or 111/2) which had a modified landing gear.[1] The 111/2 was re-engined with a 420 hp (313 kW) Gnome & Rhône 9Ady radial engine and re-designated 111/3.[1] The 111/3 was flown as part of the Patrouille Blériot which gave exhibitions and demonstrations around France and Spain in the 1930s.[1]
The 111/1 was modified as the 111/4 with a revised wing bracing, a 400 hp (298 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engine and retractable landing gear,a first for a French aircraft.[1] The 111/4 flew on 27 October 1930.[1] The next variant was the 111/5 which moved the pilot's cockpit to the rear of the passenger cabin and was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engine.[1] A re-engined variant of the 111/5 was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Gnome-Rhône K-14(sic) radial engine and was named Sagittaire (English: Sagittarius).[1]
Sagittaire later fitted with a new wing and 840 hp (626 kW) Gnome & Rhône 14Kbrs, was re-designated 111/6.[1] The 111/6 was entered into the 1934 London to Melbourne air race but it was withdrawn when the landing gear was damaged two days before the race start.[1] With no commercial interest in the design no more Bleriot 111s were built.[1]
Variants
- Bleriot 111/1
- Powered by a 280 hp (209 kW) Hispano-Suiza 6Mbr 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line engine.[1]
- Bleriot 111/2 / bis
- Modified landing gear.
- Bleriot 111/3
- The 111/2 re-engined with a 420 hp (313 kW) Gnome & Rhône 9Ady radial engine. This aircraft ended up in the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War.[2]
- Bleriot 111/4
- The 111/1 was modified as the 111/4 with a revised wing bracing, a 400 hp (298 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engine and retractable landing gear,a first for a French aircraft.[1]
- Bleriot 111/5
- The pilot's cockpit moved to the rear of the passenger cabin and fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engine.[1]
Bleriot 111/5 photo from L'Aerophile Salon 1932 - Sagittaire
- A re-engined variant of the 111/5 was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Gnome-Rhône K-14(sic) radial engine and was named Sagittaire (English: Sagittarius).[1]
Blériot Sagittaire photo from L'Aerophile November 1934 - Bleriot 111/6
- Sagittaire later fitted with a new wing and 840 hp (626 kW) Gnome & Rhône 14Kbrs
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Specifications (111/6)
Data from [3]The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: four passengers
- Length: 10.66 m (34 ft 11.75 in)
- Wingspan: 17.00 m (55 ft 9.25 in)
- Height: 4.07 m (14 ft 4.25 in)
- Wing area: 34.57 m2 (372.12 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,136 kg (4,709 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,400 kg (7,496 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14Kbrs radial engine , 636 kW (840 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph, 200 kn)
- Range: 1,000 km (621 mi, 540 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,045 ft)
References
- Notes
- Orbis 1985, p. 712
- "Aircraft that took part in the Spanish Civil War". Archived from the original on 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
- Orbis 1985, p. 713
- Sources
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.