Couzinet 70
| 70 Arc-en-Ciel | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Long-range commercial monoplane |
| Manufacturer | Société des Avions René Couzinet |
| First flight | 11 February 1932 |
| Introduction | May 1934 |
| Primary user | Aéropostale |
| Produced | 3 |
The Couzinet 70 was a French three-engined commercial monoplane built by Société des Avions René Couzinet founded by René Couzinet in the 1930s.
Design and developments[edit]
The Couzinet 70 Arc-en-Ciel III ('Rainbow') was developed from the 1920s Couzinet 10 Arc-en-Ciel, which first flew on 7 May 1928, the Couzinet 11 and Couzinet 40. The slightly larger span Couzinet 70 was developed originally as a mail plane for use of Aéropostale's South Atlantic service. It was a low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. The aircraft was powered by three Hispano-Suiza 12Nb inline piston engines. The two wing mounted engines could be accessed in flight through tunnels in the wing. After route-proving in 1933 the aircraft was modified and re-designated as the Couzinet 71 and entered service with Aéropostale in May 1934.
Variants[edit]
- 10 Arc en Ciel
- The original prototype four place long range aircraft, later converted to the Couzinet 11
- 11 Arc en Ciel II
- Converted from the Couzinet 10 but crashing on 8 August 1928
- 70 Arc en Ciel III
- Three-engined Hispano-Suiza 12Nb powered prototype, one built and converted to a Couzinet 71
- 71
- Prototype modified for service as a mailplane, with lengthened nose and strut-braced tailplane.[1]
Operators[edit]
- Spanish Republican Air Force - Couzinet 101
Specifications (70/71)[edit]
General characteristics
- Crew: Four
- Length: 16.15 m (52 ft 11.75 in)
- Wingspan: 30 m (98 ft 5 in)
- Height: 4.0 m (13 ft 1.5 in)
- Wing area: 90 m2 (968.78 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 7,310 kg (16,116 lb)
- Gross weight: 16,790 kg (37,015 lb)
- Powerplant: 3 × Hispano-Suiza 12Nb V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine , 485 kW (650 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 280 km/h (174 mph, 151 kn)
- Range: 6,800 km (4,225 mi, 3,671 nmi)
References[edit]
- ^ Bernard, Martin; Sparrow, Dave; Espérou, Bernard (December 2014). "F-1922 - The French Civil Register from 1922". Air Britain Archive: 2014/170.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
External links[edit]
