Arsenal VG-33
| Arsenal VG-33 | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
April 25, 1939 |
| Number of pieces: |
61 |
The Arsenal VG-33 was a fighter aircraft designed in France in 1939 . Before the French surrender in the Battle of France, it could only be delivered in small numbers to the Armée de l'air . The further developed types VG-34 to VG-40 , VG-39bis and VG-50 emerged from the Arsenal VG-33 .
History and construction
In 1936 the Technical Service of the French Air Force issued a specification for a light fighter aircraft made of wood. Such a construction promised independence from strategic raw materials and fast production in large numbers. Three designs followed this specification: the Bloch MB.700 , Caudron C.714 and Arsenal VG-30 . The letter combination “VG” stands for the names of the designers of the Arsenal de l'Aéronautique : the engineer Vernisse and the designer Jean Gaultier . The VG-30 was a low-wing aircraft with a classic design and completely wooden construction and showed an amazing resemblance to the later developed Italian hunter Macchi MC.202 . First, the VG-30 was given to a 12-cylinder - Boxer engine Potez 12DC equip, but this proved to be problematic. A 12- cylinder Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs engine was therefore chosen . The armament consisted of a 20 mm gun of the type Hispano-Suiza HS-404 in the propeller shaft and four 7.5-mm MG type MAC 1934/39 . The first flight took place in October 1938. There were again problems with the drive.
This led to the decision to build two more prototypes with different engines: the VG-31 with a Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 (860 PS / 632 kW), which first flew in early 1939, and the VG-32 , which was powered by one liquid-cooled 12-cylinder Allison V-1710 C-15 engine from the USA and its extremely promising maiden flight only in 1940, but was soon captured by the approaching Germans .
From the variant VG-31, after minor modifications, the prototype VG-33 was developed , which was powered by the same Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 engine. The first flight of the VG-33 took place on April 25, 1939 and revealed astonishingly good flight characteristics as well as a respectable top speed of the model of almost 560 km / h at 4500 m altitude, i.e. about 30 km / h more than the already promising Dewoitine D. 520 - and even using an older engine variant that is around 100 hp less powerful. Then 220 copies of the type for which were immediately fighter squadrons of the Armée de l'air ordered. The order was soon increased to 1000. During production it was shown that the fuselage and wings of the aircraft could be assembled and assembled at a very high speed. The engines arrived very slowly, so that at the time of the armistice after the Battle of France, around 160 almost finished aircraft were waiting for the engines, while until then only seven to twelve (exact number unclear) had been delivered to the armed forces.
commitment
The first five finished VG-33s were delivered to the EAA-301 experimental squadron for testing purposes. Only two machines (serial numbers 6 and 7) made it to an operational squadron. It was not until June 18, 1940 that the Groupe de Chasse I / 55 was launched with a base in Bordeaux, which received the two aircraft, but only flew missions for one week. After the German victory in the west, the air force took over the machines and probably used them for training purposes.
In larger numbers, the VG-33 and especially the successor version VG-39bis ( see further development ) would most likely have become a tough opponent of the German air force , comparable to the Supermarine Spitfire , the Jakowlew Jak-1 or further developments based on it. Like so many French designs from the prewar period, this one came too late.
Further development
Further developments based on the type VG-33, which differed from it by different more powerful engines.
The newer Hispano-Suiza 12Y -45 (935 PS / 688 kW) was built into the VG-34 . The VG-35 variant received the even more powerful HS 12Y-51 (1000 PS / 735 kW) and a new, streamlined radiator pan was also built into the VG-36 . A prototype of each version was built and tested from the beginning of 1940.
The VG-37 , a long-range version of the VG-36, and the VG-38 with a Hispano-Suiza 12Y -77 engine were also created on paper . No copies of these variants were built.
The bow and propeller of the VG-39 have been revised so that the aircraft has better streamlined properties. It also received the 1280 PS (942 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Y -89ter engine and even achieved a remarkable top speed of 655 km / h with two additional MG. In the planned series version VG-39bis , an even more powerful Hispano-Suiza 12Z -17 with 1600 PS (1177 kW) and the improved radiator design of the VG-36 should be used. However, production was never started.
The variant VG-39bis led to the two drawing board developments VG-40 with a Rolls-Royce Merlin III and VG-50 with an American Allison V- 1710-39 .
| Parameter | Arsenal VG-33 | Further development of the Arsenal VG-39 |
|---|---|---|
| crew | 1 | |
| length | 8.55 m | 8.81 m |
| span | 10.80 m | |
| height | 3.31 m | |
| Wing area | 15.07 m² | |
| Wing extension | ||
| Empty mass | 2050 kg | ~ 2000 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 2896 kg | ~ 3000 kg |
| Top speed | 558 km / h at an altitude of 5200 m | 625 km / h at an altitude of 5700 m |
| Rate of climb | 16.7 m / s | |
| Service ceiling | 11,000 m | |
| Range | 1200 km | |
| Engines | 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 , 860 PS (643 kW) | 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-89ter, 1280 PS (942 kW) |
| Armament | 4 × MG MAC 1934/39 1 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 cannon |
6 × MG MAC 1934/39 1 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS-404 cannon |
Countries of operation
literature
- Dominique Breffort / André Jouineau / Alan McKay (translator), French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942 Volume 1: From ANF to Curtiss , Histoire & Collections, ISBN 2-915239-23-1 (English)
- Dominique Breffort / André Jouineau / Alan McKay (translator), French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942 Volume 2: From Dewoitine to Potez , Histoire & Collections, ISBN 2-915239-49-5 (English)