The Blériot Bl-115 was a French biplaneairliner of the 1920s, best remembered for the part it played in the French exploration of Africa. For its day, it was a large aircraft, mounting one pair of engines on the upper wing and one pair on the lower. First flying on 9 May 1923, the prototype crashed on 23 June, killing its pilot, Jean Casale.
A refined version of the aircraft, the 115-bis was flown in June 1924.
Operational; historyedit
The third and fourth machines built (christened Roland Garros and Jean Casale) were used in Colonel de Goÿs' attempts to create air routes to Africa. Commanded by Jean Dagnaux, they departed France on 18 January 1925, they arrived in Colomb-Béchar, Algeria, on 28 January. The expedition ended in disaster on 7 February in Niamey, Niger when the Jean Casale crashed on take-off, killing its radio operator and seriously injuring its two pilots, including Dagnaux. They had covered 4,137 km (2,571 mi).
Variantsedit
Blériot Bl-115
Four-engined airliner, powered by 4x 180 hp (130 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8Ac engines.[1]
Blériot Bl-115bis
Improved version of the Blériot Bl-115, powered by 4x 180 hp (130 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8Ab engines.[2]
Bleriot Bl-103
Projected bomber version. Not built.
Specifications (Bl-115)edit
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924,[3] Aviafrance:Bl-115[1]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blériot 115.
^ abParmentier, Bruno (12 January 1997). "Blériot Bl-115". viafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
^Parmentier, Bruno (12 January 1997). "Blériot Bl-115bis". Aviafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
^Grey, C.G., ed. (1924). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 85b.
Further readingedit
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 162.
"An Unorthodox French Commercial Aeroplane". Flight. XV (28): 382–384. 12 July 1923.
January 01, 1970
blériot, blériot, french, biplane, airliner, 1920s, best, remembered, part, played, french, exploration, africa, large, aircraft, mounting, pair, engines, upper, wing, pair, lower, first, flying, 1923, prototype, crashed, june, killing, pilot, jean, casale, pr. The Bleriot Bl 115 was a French biplane airliner of the 1920s best remembered for the part it played in the French exploration of Africa For its day it was a large aircraft mounting one pair of engines on the upper wing and one pair on the lower First flying on 9 May 1923 the prototype crashed on 23 June killing its pilot Jean Casale Bleriot 115 Bleriot 115 prototype Role Airliner Manufacturer Bleriot First flight 9 May 1923 Number built 6 A refined version of the aircraft the 115 bis was flown in June 1924 Operational history editThe third and fourth machines built christened Roland Garros and Jean Casale were used in Colonel de Goys attempts to create air routes to Africa Commanded by Jean Dagnaux they departed France on 18 January 1925 they arrived in Colomb Bechar Algeria on 28 January The expedition ended in disaster on 7 February in Niamey Niger when the Jean Casale crashed on take off killing its radio operator and seriously injuring its two pilots including Dagnaux They had covered 4 137 km 2 571 mi Variants editBleriot Bl 115 Four engined airliner powered by 4x 180 hp 130 kW Hispano Suiza 8Ac engines 1 Bleriot Bl 115bis Improved version of the Bleriot Bl 115 powered by 4x 180 hp 130 kW Hispano Suiza 8Ab engines 2 Bleriot Bl 103 Projected bomber version Not built Specifications Bl 115 editData from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1924 3 Aviafrance Bl 115 1 General characteristicsCrew 3 Capacity 8 pax Length 14 45 m 47 ft 5 in Wingspan 25 m 82 ft 0 in Height 4 96 m 16 ft 3 in Wing area 126 m2 1 360 sq ft Empty weight 2 950 kg 6 504 lb Gross weight 4 900 kg 10 803 lb Fuel capacity 800 kg 1 800 lb fuel and oil Powerplant 4 Hispano Suiza 8Ac V 8 water cooled piston engine 130 kW 180 hp each Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propeller Performance Maximum speed 180 km h 110 mph 97 kn at sea level Range 600 km 370 mi 320 nmi Service ceiling 6 000 m 20 000 ft Wing loading 39 kg m2 8 0 lb sq ft Power mass 0 1088 kW kg 0 0662 hp lb References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bleriot 115 a b Parmentier Bruno 12 January 1997 Bleriot Bl 115 viafrance in French Paris Retrieved 10 March 2018 Parmentier Bruno 12 January 1997 Bleriot Bl 115bis Aviafrance in French Paris Retrieved 10 March 2018 Grey C G ed 1924 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1924 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd p 85b Further reading editTaylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 162 An Unorthodox French Commercial Aeroplane Flight XV 28 382 384 12 July 1923 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bleriot 115 amp oldid 1067639754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
