Dassault Hirondelle
| Dassault MD.320 Hirondelle | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Transport plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
September 11, 1968 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 prototype |
The Dassault MD.320 Hirondelle was a 14-seat multi-purpose transport aircraft from the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation , which was powered by two turboprop engines and had a pressurized cabin .
History and construction
In 1967 the French Air Force was looking for a replacement for the twin-engine Douglas DC-3 and Beechcraft 18 , which were used for transport tasks and for navigation training. Therefore inquiries were made to the French aviation industry, whereby the new aircraft should be powered by Turbomeca Astazou propeller turbines with 870 hp. Based on the request, Dassault designed and constructed a prototype. The design and construction could be completed quickly as it was based on the Dassault Falcon 20based. The fuselage length and volume were identical, but the wings and tail unit were taken over from the Falcon 20, but adjusted. The aircraft had a retractable nose wheel landing gear, with the main landing gear retracted into the engine nacelles. The Hirondelle had a circular fuselage cross-section, a pressurized cabin with space for two pilots and a maximum of twelve passengers.
The experience gained in the Hirondelle program later flowed into the Dassault Falcon 10 project, the prototype of which flew for the first time in 1970. The Hirondelle was the last propeller airplane developed by Dassault.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| Passengers | 8-12 |
| length | 12.25 m |
| span | 14.55 m |
| height | ? m |
| Wing area | 27 m² |
| Empty mass | 3500 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 5400 kg |
| Top speed | 500 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 5000 m |
| Range | 3000 km |
| Engines | 2 × Turbomeca Astazou XIVD turboprop engines with 686 kW each |
See also
Web links
- Dassault website - Information about the Hirondelle program (en)
- FLIGHT International July 11th, 1968
- Photo of the Hirondelle
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)
- ↑ Data from Aviastar.org