Wibault 280

Wibault 280-T
Wibault 283.T12 F-AMYF
Role 12-passenger transport monoplane
Manufacturer Wibault
First flight 1930
Primary users Air France
Air Union

The Wibaut 280-T was a French 12-passenger civil airliner produced by Wibault backed by money from the Penhoët shipyards.

Contents

Design and development

The prototype Wibaut-Penhoët 280-T first flew at Villacoublay in November 1930 with the development backed by funds from the Penhoët shipyards of St Nazaire. It was an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane powered by three 300 hp (224 kW) Hispano-Wright 9Qa radial engines although these were soon replaced by three Gnome-Rhône 7Kb and the aircraft was redesignated the Wibaut 281-T. A second aircraft was built to the 281 standard but then it was converted to a Wibault 282-T with three 350 hp (261 kW) Gnome-Rhône 7Kd engines and room for 12 passengers, seven further aircraft were built as 282s. Some of the 282s were operated by Air Union on the Paris-London Voile d'Or ("Golden Clipper") service in 1933. In 1934 Air France took delivery of the first of ten Wibault 283-Ts which had an increased fuel capacity and modified tail. Some of the 282s were converted to 283 standard. Some of the commercial aircraft were later taken over as military transports.

Accidents and incidents

Variants

Wibaut-Penhoët 280-T
Prototype with three 300hp (224kW) Hispano-Wright 9Qa radial engines, one built converted to a 281.
Wibaut 281-T
Prototype re-engined with three Hispano-Wright 9Qa radial engines followed by one other later converted to a 282
Wibaut 282-T
12-passenger production variant with three 350hp (261kW) Gnome-Rhône 7Kd radial engines, seven built and one conversion from 281.
Wibaut 283-T
Production variant for Air France with three 350hp (261kW) Gnome-Rhône 7Kd radial engines and increased fuel capacity, ten built.

Operators

 France
 Portugal

Specifications (283-T-12)

General characteristics

Performance

Notes

  1. ^ "Mishap to French Air Liner" The Times (London). Monday, 21 May 1934. Issue 46759, col F, p. 7.

References

External links