Blériot 127
| Blériot 127 | |
|---|---|
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| Type: | |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
May 7, 1926 |
| Number of pieces: |
43 |
The Blériot 127 - also known as the Blériot Bl-127 - was a multi-purpose military aircraft made by the French manufacturer Blériot Aéronautique in the 1920s.
The machine was developed by SPAD designer Léon Kirste and is considered a further development of the Blériot 107 , which only existed as a draft, and the Blériot 117 , of which only a prototype was built.
The first flight of a single copy of the Blériot 127 took place on May 7, 1926 . The aircraft was then further developed, u. a. equipped with more powerful engines, and started on January 10, 1928 , now referred to as Blériot 127/2.
In this version, of which a total of 42 copies have been built, the aircraft went into service with the French Air Force as the successor to the Caudron R-11 and remained there until 1934 , although it was considered cumbersome and ineffective.
construction
In the Blériot 127, it was a predominantly wood -constructed mid-wing . The open cockpit with double controls for pilots and co-pilots was located approximately at the level of the leading edge of the wing. A weapon stand was located in the nose of the fuselage, and there was also a weapon stand in the stern of the motor gondolas, these positions could be reached by the gunner in flight over the center wing. The landing gear was not retractable and consisted of the main landing gear with twin tires (i.e. a total of 4 wheels) and a tail spur.
variants
Blériot 127/1
prototype manufactured as a single piece
Blériot 127/2
Production version, among other things equipped with more powerful engines than the prototype, cooler mounted under the wings to improve aerodynamics
Blériot 127/3
Single copy (night bomber); First flight on January 20, 1928
Blériot 127/4
Single item as a variant of the 127/2; The visible difference to the 127/2 was the modified chassis, which on the 127/4 consisted of two single wheels with aerodynamic panels (so-called "trouser panels")
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Blériot 127/1 | Blériot 127/2 | Blériot 127/3 | Blériot 127/4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| crew | 4 (pilot, co-pilot, 2 gunner) | 5 (which task the 5th person had is not known) | ||
| length | 14.50 m | 14.68 m | ||
| span | 23.20 m | |||
| height | 3.40 m | 3.41 m | ||
| Wing area | approx. 88 m² | |||
| Empty mass | 3252 kg | 3750 kg | 3260 kg | |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 4450 kg | 4966 kg | 4466 kg | 4717 kg |
| drive | 2 × Hispano-Suiza-12Gb in-line engines ; 500 hp each | 2 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hb in-line engines; 550 PS (405 kW) each | ||
| Top speed | 221 km / h at sea level | 199 km / h | 203 km / h at sea level | 210 km / h at sea level |
| Summit height | 8800 m | 6850 m | ||
| Armament | unknown | six Lewis machine guns , cal. 7.7 mm, one pair each in the bow and in the rear engine pods; Bomb load of 250 kg in the fuselage center shaft |
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