SABCA S.11

The SABCA S.11 or SABCA S.XI was a prototype Belgian airliner of the 1930s. It was a three-engined high-winged monoplane intended for service in the Belgian Congo, but only a single example was built.

S.11
Role Airliner
National origin Belgium
Manufacturer SABCA
Designer Henri Jullien
First flight 12 August 1931
Number built 1

Design and development

In 1926, the Belgian government issued a specification for an all-metal trimotor airliner to replace the wooden Handley Page W.8 biplanes used by Belgian airline SABENA in the Belgian Congo. To meet this requirement, Sociétés Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques (SABCA) offered a high-winged monoplane, the S.XI, designed by Henri Jullien, its chief engineer, which was intended to fly in 1928.[1]

The S.XI had a fuselage constructed of welded-steel tubing, covered by fabric. The crew of three (two pilots and a navigator) were accommodated in an enclosed cockpit ahead of the wing, while the aircraft's cabin had seats for up to 20 passengers. The wings had steel spars with Duralumin ribs and covering, and were braced by steel struts. The aircraft's tail assembly was made of Duralumin. It was powered by three Bristol Jupiter radial engines, rated at 420 horsepower (310 kW) each, with one mounted in the nose and the other two on the leading edge of the wing, each driving two-bladed propellers. The aircraft had a fixed conventional landing gear.[2]

Although it was expected to be completed in 1928, the prototype was not ready until 1931, making its first flight on 12 August 1931.[2] As a result of testing, the aircraft was fitted with a lengthened rear fuselage with a modified tail of similar design to that used by the SABCA S.12. The type was soon abandoned, with no production following.[1]

Specifications
SABCA S.XI 3-view drawing from NACA-AC-160

Data from Flight 4 September 1931: S.A.B.C.A. S.XI.,[2] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot and navigator)
  • Capacity: 20 passengers
  • Length: 16.9 m (55 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 22.12 m (72 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 96.8 m2 (1,042 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,127 kg (9,098 lb)
  • Gross weight: 6,600 kg (14,551 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 2,880 litres (760 US gal; 630 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 3 × SABCA Jupiter 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 310 kW (420 hp) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch metal propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 220 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
  • Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,500 ft)

References
  1. Mali, Charles. "Le Sabca S 11" (PDF). Fonds National Alfred Renard. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  2. "Air Transport: S.A.B.C.A. S.XI". Flight. Vol. XXIII, no. 1184. 4 September 1931. pp. 885–886.
  3. Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd.
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