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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0382.PDF
JULY 12, 1923 AN UNORTHODOX FRENCH COMMERCIAL AEROPLANE The Bleriot 115, with Four Hispano Engines ^ - As in this country so also in France, the question of single- engined or multi-engined machines has been occupying the minds of constructors, designers, and users. Among those who believe that absolute engine reliability is an essential feature if public confidence is to be gained and retained is M. Louis Bleriot, who has backed up this opinion by financing the construction of several multi-engined machines. The latest of these to be shown was the Herbemont-designed four- engined commercial machine exhibited at the Paris Aero Show in 1921. That machine, it may be recalled, had but one single strut on each side, after the fashion of the well-known Spad-Herbemont machines. At the time we rather doubted the adequacy of single-strut wing bracing on a machine in altitude of 5,600 metres (18,400 ft.), piloted by Jean Casale.* Apart from the employment of four engines placed on the wings, the main feature at which the designers of the Bleriot 115 have aimed is simplicity of construction. The fuselage, wings, and tail members are all straight-lined, and wherever joints occur they are almost without exception at right angles. This, of course, facilitates and cheapens the construction enormously. Another feature is that the engine installations have been designed as complete units, so that any engine of the group of four may be placed in any position. The fuselage is of rectangular section, the front portion being ply-wood panels on spruce longitudinals and struts, while the rear portion has top and bottom covered with ply- THE FOUR-ENGINED BLERIOT 115 : Three-quarter front view. Note ladder leading to cabin. which the engines were placed tandem fashion on the wings.As a matter of fact, we believe that the type was abandoned, partly because static tests indicated that it would be some-what difficult to provide the necessary strength without undue weight, and partly because Bleriots found, as German andBritish designers have found, that engines in tandem is not a very good arrangement. ' Early this year it was decided to proceed with the design of an entirely different type, still using four engines, but placing them on the wings, somewhat after the fashion of the " Mammoth " Bleriot of the years immediately after the War. The engine placing is, however, the only feature of resemblance between the two types, as the accompanying illustrations will show. For the particulars and illustrations of the new Bleriot 115, as the machine is styled, we are indebted to M. G. Brun of Bleriot Aeronautique, Suresnes (Seine), and it is worthy of note that this machine, which represents M. Bleriot's latest ideas on multi-engined machines, has already established a world's record by carrying a useful load of 2,200 lbs. to an wood, but the sides fabric covered over duralumin tubes and R.A.F.-wire bracing. The whole fuselage is, finally, covered with fabric, both over the ply-wood portion and the braced girder rear section. The wings are chiefly remarkable for the fact that they are placed at no angle of incidence to the fuselage, the bottom surface of the lower wing being flush with the bottom of the fuselage, and that the spars are so situated in the section that front and rear spars are alike. The result is that all the inter- plane struts are identical, and can be used for either front or rear, inner or outer bay. This, of course, not only facilitates construction, but reduces the number of spares. The wing ribs are all alike, as the wings are parallel, and are square- ended. The aspect ratio is high (9-6), which fact should materially assist in enabling the machine to fly at reduced * This article was written and set before the sad news had been receivedof the regrettable accident which resulted in the death of Jean Casale. It appears, from statements made by the mechanic on board the machine, thata control cable jammed or broke, thus causing the accident, which does not seem to have been due in any way to the somewhat unusual design of themachine.—ED. THE BLERIOT 115 : Three-quarter rear view. 382 .v..v,..
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