Blériot-SPAD S.46

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S.46
Type Airliner
Manufacturer Blériot
Maiden flight June 16 1921
Primary user Franco-Roumaine
Number built ca. 40

The Bleriot-SPAD S.46 was a small French airliner of the 1920s, developed from the S.33. Like its predecessor, it was a conventional biplane that seated four passengers in an enclosed cabin while the pilot and occasionally a fifth passenger rode in an open cockpit. The S.46 had a redesigned wing of longer span and a far more powerful engine. The type was employed by Franco-Roumaine, which purchased 38 out of the 40 examples produced for use on their continental European routes.

In 1922 one of the S.46s was modified to use a more powerful Lorraine engine of 336 kW (450 hp) and redesignated S.86. In 1929 this was changed to a Hispano-Suiza engine in the same power range and redesignated S.126.

In 1925, the surviving 34 Franco-Roumaine aircraft were recalled to Blériot where they underwent remanufacture to incorporate various refinements. These refurbished aircraft were redesignated S.66. One of these aircraft was subsequently modified to use a more powerful Lorraine engine of 336 kW (450 hp) and redesignated S.116.

[edit] Variants

  • S.46 - Single-engined passenger airliner.
    • S.86 - One S.46 was modified when it was fitted with the more powerful 450-hp (336-kW) Lorraine engine.
      • S.126 - The S.86 was further modified again, when it was fitted with a 450-hp (336-kW) Hispano-Suiza 12 Ha engine.
    • S.66 - 38 remanufactured S.46s.
      • S.116 - One S.66 was modified with the more powerful 450-hp (336-kW) Renault 12Ja engine

[edit] Operators

Flag of France France
  • Franco-Roumaine (38 aircraft)

[edit] Specifications (S.46)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 5 passengers
  • Length: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.60 m (41 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 3.18 m (10 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 47 sq metres (506 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,417 kg (3,124 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 2,270 kg (5,000 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1× Lorraine-Dietrich 12Da, 276 kW (370 hp)

Performance


[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 163. 
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 890 Sheet 42. 
  • aviafrance.com


[edit] See also

Related development S.33 - S.50 - S.56