Blériot 111

The Blériot 111 was a French four-seat executive transport monoplane designed by André Herbemont.^[1] The first French aircraft to be fitted with a retractable landing gear, after six years development it was not ordered into production.^[1]

Design and development

The Bleriot 111 was a low-wing single-engined monoplane with an enclosed passenger cabin and an open cockpit for the pilot forward of the cabin.^[1] The first variant was the Bleriot 111/1 which first flew on 24 January 1929 powered by a 280 hp (209 kW) Hispano-Suiza 6Mbr 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line engine.^[1] In October 1929 a second variant flew (known as the 111bis or 111/2) which had a modified landing gear.^[1] The 111/2 was re-engined with a 420 hp (313 kW) Gnome & Rhône 9Ady radial engine and re-designated 111/3.^[1] The 111/3 was flown as part of the Patrouille Blériot which gave exhibitions and demonstrations around France and Spain in the 1930s.^[1]

The 111/1 was modified as the 111/4 with a revised wing bracing, a 400 hp (298 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engine and retractable landing gear,a first for a French aircraft.^[1] The 111/4 flew on 27 October 1930.^[1] The next variant was the 111/5 which moved the pilot's cockpit to the rear of the passenger cabin and was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engine.^[1] A re-engined variant of the 111/5 was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Gnome-Rhône K-14(sic) radial engine and was named Sagittaire (English: Sagittarius).^[1]

Sagittaire later fitted with a new wing and 840 hp (626 kW) Gnome & Rhône 14Kbrs, was re-designated 111/6.^[1] The 111/6 was entered into the 1934 London to Melbourne air race but it was withdrawn when the landing gear was damaged two days before the race start.^[1] With no commercial interest in the design no more Bleriot 111s were built.^[1]

Variants

Bleriot 111/1

Powered by a 280 hp (209 kW) Hispano-Suiza 6Mbr 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line engine.^[1]

Bleriot 111/2 / bis

Modified landing gear.

Bleriot 111/3

The 111/2 re-engined with a 420 hp (313 kW) Gnome & Rhône 9Ady radial engine

Bleriot 111/4

The 111/1 was modified as the 111/4 with a revised wing bracing, a 400 hp (298 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engine and retractable landing gear,a first for a French aircraft.^[1]

Bleriot 111/5

The pilot's cockpit moved to the rear of the passenger cabin and fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engine.^[1]

Sagittaire

A re-engined variant of the 111/5 was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Gnome-Rhône K-14(sic) radial engine and was named Sagittaire (English: Sagittarius).^[1]

Bleriot 111/6

Sagittaire later fitted with a new wing and 840 hp (626 kW) Gnome & Rhône 14Kbrs

Specifications (111/6)

Data from ^[2]The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: four passengers
• Length: 10.66 m (34 ft 11¾ in)
• Wingspan: 17.00 m (55 ft 9¼ in)
• Height: 4.07 m (14 ft 4¼ in)
• Wing area: 34.57 m² (372.12 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2136 kg (4709 lb)
• Gross weight: 3400 kg (7496 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14Kbrs radial engine, 636 kW (840 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph)
• Range: 1000 km (621 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5500 m (18045 ft)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Louis Blériot aircraft.

Notes

Sources

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.