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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2362.PDF
362 FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1943 THE FRENCH AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY The Holste 20 yra.s originally designed for the Coupe Deutschin 1939. Wing span, 22ft. ; wing area, 75.3 sq. ft. ; maxi- , mum speed, 307 m.p.h. For training and coastal patrol work the* S.N.C.A. du Centre has developed the N.C.420, a twin-float seaplane powered with two Beam 6D six-cylinder air:cooled in-line engines of 330 h.p. each. Two previously completed types, the N.C.410 and the N.C.470, were equipped with Hispano 860 h.p. and Gnome-Rhone 480 h.p. engines respectively. Four other light types have been requisitioned by the Germans: the M-202 and M-300 trainers, built by the Manboussin Company, the Holste 20 and the Stark A.S.20 "Sport" air- craft. The M-202, de- veloped from the fast M-200 which in 1939 estab- lished a world- speed record, is a single-seater cantilever low- wing monoplane, constructed en- tirely in wood, with plywood or fabric covering. It has a span oi 23ft. ioin., a length of 22ft. 8in., a height of 7ft. 8in., and a wing area of 502 sq. ft. Powered with one Regnier 4 E.O. air-cooled in-line engine of 950 h.p., driving a Ratier v.p. airscrew, the M-202 has a maximum speed of 158 m.p.h. at 6,500ft. ; 149 m.p.h. at 13,100ft. ; and a cruising speed of 152 m.p.h. Range is 608 miles and service ceiling 17,522ft. The M-300 is a twin-engined, low-wing monoplane of mixed construction, powered with Renault in-line engines of 220 h.p. each and equipped with a retractable under- carriage. The aircraft has seating accommodation for three behind one another. It has a span of 42ft. 7m., a length of 32ft. gin., height of 9ft., and a wing area of 269.3 S<1- ft. The empty weight is 3.482 lb., and the gross weight 5,445 lb. The maximum speed is 190 m.p.h. and the range 800 miles. Ceiling is 26,341ft. A Revival The single-seater Holste 20, originally designed in 1939 for the Deutsch Cup, is an all-metal, cantilever low-wing monoplane with a Dural monocoque fuselage of elliptical section and wings of trapezoidal-plan form with rounded tips. The aircraft has a span of 21.92ft., length of 21.78ft., a height of 6.89ft., and a wing area of 75.3 sq. ft. Powered The Stark A.S.20 has a Regnier 4D2 engine of 74 h.p., which is reported to havegiven the somewhat surprising top speed of 142 m.p.h. coupled with a ceiling of 24,600ft. with a 12-cylinder Regnier 12 H-00 V-type air-cooled engine of 380 to 420 h.p., the Holste has a maximum speed of 307 m.p.h., and a cruising speed of 296 m.p.h. It lands without flaps at 85 m.p.h. The empty weight of the aircraft is 1,289 lb.,, and gross weight 1,822 lb. No confirmation is available of reports stating that the Holste is to be used for advanced training for the Luftwaffe and apparently only one or two prototypes have been built so far. For Future Transport To conclude this balance sheet of the French aircraft industry, taken at the time when it was placed under the German jackboot, one should mention another recent example of the anachronous position of the Vichy authori- ties. It has recently been announced that " with German con sent," the French State Railways (S.N.C.F.) " with an eye on future demands on transport," have organised a com- petition for the best design of a mail-carrying aircraf^j specifying a payload of 2,200 lb. at a cruising speed of 250J m.p.h. over a range of 950 miles. One of the condition^ stipulated is that the aircraft must be able to cover this range flying on one engine only. According to available reports, a design submitted by the Caudron Aircraft Company, and based on early de- velopment, the C.R. 920 has received favourable con- sideration. It is said to be a twin- engined high-wing monoplane with a nose wheel under- carriage and is specially designed for easy and rapid handling of ex- press mail. But since the recent German measures have deprived Vichy oE its last vestige of independent action in the sphere of aircraft production, there is no doubt for whose ultimate, benefit t h e sfe efforts are being made. Finally it is worth noting that apart from the established aircraft indus- try a number of other firms have been drawn into the pro- duction of aircraft parts and components. Of particular interest is the report that some French piano manufac- turers, such as the Pleyer Piano Works of St. Denis, near Paris, are now engaged on experimental work on plywood aircraft monocoques and on production of plastic com- ponents ; an indication of the increasing attention paid by the Germans to the employment of these materials. Stark A.S.20. Wing span, 19ft. ; wing area, 86 sq. ft.
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