Blériot 195

The Blériot 195 was a large low-wing cantilever monoplane designed for use on mail flights across the North Atlantic.[1] It was powered by four 100 hp (75 kW) Hispano-Suiza 6Mb inline piston engines, which were mounted in tandem pairs above the wing on a complex of struts.[1] Designated the 195/2 landplane, it first flew on 9 March 1929. By the end of 1929, it had been re-designated the 195/3 and test flown with twin floats.[1] It was re-designated again as the 195/4 in early 1930, when it was fitted with 230 hp (172 kW) Gnome-Rhone Titan engines.[1] It was put forward to meet a requirement for a seaplane to operate a mail service between Marseilles and Algiers, but in the end none of the designs submitted were accepted and the 195 was placed into storage.[1]

In April 1931 it was brought out of storage and modified to be a landplane and designated the 195/6; it was then tested by Air Union as a cargo aircraft.[1] It did not gain a certificate of airworthiness as a cargo carrier and was withdrawn from use.[1]

195/2

Mail-carrier landplane with four 250hp Hispano-Suiza 6Mb piston engines.[1]

195/3

The 195/2 modified as a floatplane.[1]

195/4

The 195/3 re-engined with four 230hp Gnome-Rhône 5Kd Titan engines.[1]

195/6

195/4 modified to a landplane.[1]

Blériot 195 3-view drawing from L'Aéronautique April, 1929

Data from [1]The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

General characteristics

• Length: 14.70 m (48 ft 2.75 in)
• Wingspan: 23.20 m (76 ft 1.25 in)
• Height: 4.10 m (13 ft 5.5 in)
• Wing area: 90.00 m² (968.78 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 3,850 kg (8,488 lb)
• Gross weight: 5,750 kg (12,677 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Hispano-Suiza 6Mb inline piston engine , 186 kW (150 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,125 ft)

Related lists

• List of flying boats and floatplanes

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Notes

Bibliography