Dewoitine D.332
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| D.332 | |
|---|---|
| Type | eight-passenger airliner |
| Manufacturer | Dewoitine |
| Maiden flight | 1933 |
| Primary user | Air France |
| Number built | D.332 1 D.333 3 |
| Variants | D.338 |
The Dewoitine D.332 was a 1930s French eight-passenger airliner built by Dewoitine.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
The D.332 was an all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane. The pilot and co-pilot were seated side by side in a cabin located forward of the wing leading edge. A radio operator station was located behind the pilots, and it had a passenger cabin for eight passengers. The landing gear had trouser-type fairings on the main gear legs.
[edit] Operations
The aircraft first flew on 11 July 1933 powered by three Hispano-Suiza 9V radial engines. The prototype was named Emeraude (French: "Emerald") and carried out demonstration flights around European capitals. Emeraude gained a world class record on 7 September 1933 when it flew a 1,000 km (621 mile) course with a useful load of 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) at an average speed of 159.56 km/h (99.1 mph).
Designed to meet an Air France requirement for use on the route to French Indo-China, the aircraft set out for Saigon on 21 December 1933 on a proving flight. The aircraft arrived at Saigon on 28 December 1933. On the return flight when only 400 km (249 miles) from its destination, Le Bourget airport, Emeraude struck a hill near Corbigny in a violent snowstorm and was destroyed. Despite the accident, Air France decided to order three of an improved version designated the Dewoitine D.333. The D.333 was a heavier and strengthened 10-seat version, the fully loaded weight was increased by 1,650 kg (3,637 lb). The three D.333s were used on the Toulouse-Dakar sector of the Air France South American route for several years.
[edit] Variants
- D.332 Prototype aircraft with 8 seats. One built.
- D.333 Production aircraft with 10 seats. Three built.
- D.338 Improved version with retractable undercarriage.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (D.332)
Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 62 ft 2 in (18.95 m)
- Wingspan: 95 ft 1¾ in (29 m)
- Height: ()
- Wing area: 861.14 ft² (80 m²)
- Empty weight: 11,640 lb (5,280 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 20,613 lb (9,350 kg)
- Powerplant: 3× Hispano-Suiza V9 (licence-built Wright Cyclone) radial piston, 575 hp (429 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 186 mph (300 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 155 mph (250 km/h)
- Range: 1,243 miles (2,000 km)
- Service ceiling 20,670 ft (6,300 m)
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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