Blériot 135

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135
Type Airliner
Manufacturer Blériot
Maiden flight 19 July 1924
Primary user Air Union
Number built 1, plus one conversion

The Blériot 135 (or Bl-135) was a French airliner of the 1920s, a development of the Blériot 115 with more powerful, radial engines. One of the two built was actually converted from a 115, while the other was built new. Both saw service with Air Union on their Paris-London route from mid-1924.

One of the two aircraft was involved in a fatal crash on 2 October 1926. En route from Paris to Croydon, the aircraft's port engines caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing at Penshurst, but lost control of the aircraft while still at 150 metres (500 ft). Both crewmembers and five passengers aboard were killed.


[edit] Variants

Bleriot 135
Four-engined airliner.
Bleriot 136
Projected five-seat day-bomber version. Not built.

[edit] Operators

Flag of France France
  • Air Union

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two pilots and one radio operator
  • Capacity: 8 passengers
  • Length: 14.45 m (47 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 25.00 m (82 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 4.96 m (16 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 126.0 m² (1,356 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 3,218 kg (7,094 lb)
  • Gross weight: 5,300 kg (11,684 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Salmson 9Ab, 172 kW (230 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 km/h (118 mph)
  • Range: 570 km (355 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 5,100 m (16,730 ft)

[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 162. 
  • Barfoot, John. "R.E.8 Pilot: Lieutenant William Lefevre Oxley Parker13 Squadron, RFC." The '14-'18 Journal 2006. Sydney: The Australian Society of World War 1 Aero Historians, 14.
  • aviafrance.com


[edit] See also