The Couzinet 20 was a low power, three-engined aircraft designed in France in 1929 for postal duties, though it could have been configured to carry three passengers or as a medical transport. Variants flew with three different engines but only two airframes were completed.
The Couzinet 20 strongly resembled the earlier Couzinet 10Arc-en-Ciel but was markedly smaller, with a span reduced by about 40%. The smaller dimensions meant there was no longer access to the outboard engines in flight (both types were tri-motors) but the Type 20 was more advanced in having a retractable undercarriage. Both had Couzinet's characteristic fin, formed from the body rather than joined to it.[1]
It was a low wingcantilevermonoplane. Its wing was entirely wooden, built around two box spars and plywood covered, with a thick section which thinned continuously from root to tip. In plan each wing was trapezoidal, though long tips produced an approximately elliptical form. Long narrow-chordailerons, each divided into two, were placed at the outer ends of the trapezoidal part.[1]
The Type 20's two outer nine-cylinder, 30 kW (40 hp) radialSalmson 9AD engines were mounted just ahead of the wing leading edge with their cylinders exposed for cooling; the third was in the nose. Each had a pointed spinner and fairings behind the engine.[1] The later Types 21 and 22 had more powerful radials, the five-cylinder, 63 kW (85 hp) Walter Vega I[1][2] and the seven-cylinder, 71 kW (95 hp) Salmson 7Ac respectively.[3] The fuselage was a ply-skinned semi-monocoque structure with close-spaced frames and stringers. It narrowed aft and the upper part rose upward to form a narrow vertical edge which formed the very broad fin; the fuselage underside curved upwards in parallel. A cantilever tailplane carried full-span elevators and a rather pointed rudder ran down to the keel via a gap between them.[1]
The crew's enclosed cabin, placed on the wing leading edge, seated two side-by-side. The cabin and the rest of the interior were accessed through a righthand side door over the wing. Behind the cabin there was a small baggage space and behind that a compartment with four windows a side. This could accommodate three passengers or two stretcher cases with a doctor. Unfurnished it could carry 200 kg (440 lb) of mail.[1]
The Type 20 had retractable landing gear. Each mainwheel was on a vertical oleo strut under the engine and hinged on a bent axle and a drag strut, both tubular. They were retracted by lever-operated cables into the engine cowlings, with the axle and drag strut lying on the wing underside. In the cockpit there were pointers indicating the undercarriage position and a quick release to lower it. The mainwheels had brakes and the tailwheel castered.[1]
Developmentedit
Construction of the Couzinet 20 began in May 1929[4] and it was almost ready for flight in January 1930[5] but was destroyed along with the Arc-en-Ciel 2 in a hangar fire at the workshops of the Société d'Aviation Letord at Meudon, France, on 17 February.[6] A second example was built and flew for the first time in the first week of November 1930.[7] It was on display soon after at the 12th Paris Salon[8][9] and on 31 May in demonstrations of touring aircraft organised by the French Aero Club Association.[10] It visited Bourget in September to meet the Arc-en-ciel at the end of its six-hour flight from Algiers.[11]
Meanwhile, the Type 21 with Walter engines first flew in February 1931.[12] These engines were later replaced with 95 hp Salmsons to become the Type 22,[2] which was flown for the first time in December 1932.[3] General Louis Couhé proposed to fly it to Saigon in January 1933.[13] but there is no record of this flight. In November the Type 22, still owned by Couhé and described as having 40 hp Salmsons, had its engine mountings lengthened to adjust the centre of gravity and improve handling.[14]
Cruise speed: 101 km/h (63 mph, 55 kn) . Flight[9] gives 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
Range: 2,000 km (1,200 mi, 1,100 nmi) . Flight[9] gives 900 km (560 mi) at 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) (1,000 m (3,300 ft) with one wing motor stopped)
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijFrachet, André (11 December 1930). "L'avion René Couzinet type 20". Les Ailes (495): 9.
^ abcdBernard, Martin; Sparrow, Dave; Espérou, Bernard (December 2014). "F-1922 – The French Civil Register from 1922". Air Britain Archive: 2014/170.
^ abBruno Parmentier (16 May 2002). "Couzinet 22". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"A travers l'industrie aéronautique – Couzinet". Les Ailes (412): 12. 23 January 1929.
^"Petites Nouvelles ...de France". Les Ailes (449): 15. 23 January 1930.
^"Peitites Nouvelles ...de France". Les Ailes (453): 15. 20 February 1930.
^"Les vols du "Couzinet"". Les Ailes (490): 9. 6 November 1930.
^"The Continental Sections". Flight. XXII (49): 1412. 5 December 1930.
^ abc"Couzinet". Flight. XXII (50): 1434, 1439. 12 December 1930.
^"Private Flying and Club News". Flight. XXIII (24): 537. 12 June 1931.
^"Au Bourget". Les Ailes (496): 14. 20 November 1932.
^Bruno Parmentier (16 May 2002). "Couzinet 21". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^"Nouvelles brèves sportives". L'Écho d'Alger. 26 November 1932. p. 4.
^"Notule Techniques... On Transporte". Les Ailes (646): 3. 2 November 1933.
December 15, 2023
couzinet, power, three, engined, aircraft, designed, france, 1929, postal, duties, though, could, have, been, configured, carry, three, passengers, medical, transport, variants, flew, with, three, different, engines, only, airframes, were, completed, role, pos. The Couzinet 20 was a low power three engined aircraft designed in France in 1929 for postal duties though it could have been configured to carry three passengers or as a medical transport Variants flew with three different engines but only two airframes were completed Couzinet 20Role Postal or touring aircraftNational origin FranceManufacturer Societe des Avions Rene CouzinetDesigner Rene CouzinetFirst flight October November 1930Number built 2 Contents 1 Design 2 Development 3 Variants 4 Specifications Type 20 5 ReferencesDesign editThe Couzinet 20 strongly resembled the earlier Couzinet 10 Arc en Ciel but was markedly smaller with a span reduced by about 40 The smaller dimensions meant there was no longer access to the outboard engines in flight both types were tri motors but the Type 20 was more advanced in having a retractable undercarriage Both had Couzinet s characteristic fin formed from the body rather than joined to it 1 It was a low wing cantilever monoplane Its wing was entirely wooden built around two box spars and plywood covered with a thick section which thinned continuously from root to tip In plan each wing was trapezoidal though long tips produced an approximately elliptical form Long narrow chord ailerons each divided into two were placed at the outer ends of the trapezoidal part 1 The Type 20 s two outer nine cylinder 30 kW 40 hp radial Salmson 9AD engines were mounted just ahead of the wing leading edge with their cylinders exposed for cooling the third was in the nose Each had a pointed spinner and fairings behind the engine 1 The later Types 21 and 22 had more powerful radials the five cylinder 63 kW 85 hp Walter Vega I 1 2 and the seven cylinder 71 kW 95 hp Salmson 7Ac respectively 3 The fuselage was a ply skinned semi monocoque structure with close spaced frames and stringers It narrowed aft and the upper part rose upward to form a narrow vertical edge which formed the very broad fin the fuselage underside curved upwards in parallel A cantilever tailplane carried full span elevators and a rather pointed rudder ran down to the keel via a gap between them 1 The crew s enclosed cabin placed on the wing leading edge seated two side by side The cabin and the rest of the interior were accessed through a righthand side door over the wing Behind the cabin there was a small baggage space and behind that a compartment with four windows a side This could accommodate three passengers or two stretcher cases with a doctor Unfurnished it could carry 200 kg 440 lb of mail 1 The Type 20 had retractable landing gear Each mainwheel was on a vertical oleo strut under the engine and hinged on a bent axle and a drag strut both tubular They were retracted by lever operated cables into the engine cowlings with the axle and drag strut lying on the wing underside In the cockpit there were pointers indicating the undercarriage position and a quick release to lower it The mainwheels had brakes and the tailwheel castered 1 Development editConstruction of the Couzinet 20 began in May 1929 4 and it was almost ready for flight in January 1930 5 but was destroyed along with the Arc en Ciel 2 in a hangar fire at the workshops of the Societe d Aviation Letord at Meudon France on 17 February 6 A second example was built and flew for the first time in the first week of November 1930 7 It was on display soon after at the 12th Paris Salon 8 9 and on 31 May in demonstrations of touring aircraft organised by the French Aero Club Association 10 It visited Bourget in September to meet the Arc en ciel at the end of its six hour flight from Algiers 11 Meanwhile the Type 21 with Walter engines first flew in February 1931 12 These engines were later replaced with 95 hp Salmsons to become the Type 22 2 which was flown for the first time in December 1932 3 General Louis Couhe proposed to fly it to Saigon in January 1933 13 but there is no record of this flight In November the Type 22 still owned by Couhe and described as having 40 hp Salmsons had its engine mountings lengthened to adjust the centre of gravity and improve handling 14 Variants editType 20 3 30 kW 40 hp Salmson 9AD 1 Type 21 3 63 kW 85 hp Walter Vega I 1 2 Type 22 Type 21 converted to 3 71 kW 95 hp Salmson 7Ac 2 Specifications Type 20 edit nbsp Couzinet 20Data from Les Ailes December 1930 1 General characteristicsCrew Two pilot and engineer Capacity Three passengers Length 10 50 m 34 ft 5 in Wingspan 16 06 m 52 ft 8 in Height 2 60 m 8 ft 6 in Wing area 31 50 m2 339 1 sq ft Empty weight 620 kg 1 367 lb Gross weight 1 540 kg 3 395 lb Powerplant 3 Salmson 9AD 9 cylinder radial 30 kW 40 hp each Propellers 2 bladedPerformance Maximum speed 165 km h 103 mph 89 kn Cruise speed 101 km h 63 mph 55 kn Flight 9 gives 150 km h 93 mph 81 kn Range 2 000 km 1 200 mi 1 100 nmi Flight 9 gives 900 km 560 mi at 150 km h 93 mph 81 kn Service ceiling 3 000 m 9 800 ft 1 000 m 3 300 ft with one wing motor stopped References edit a b c d e f g h i j Frachet Andre 11 December 1930 L avion Rene Couzinet type 20 Les Ailes 495 9 a b c d Bernard Martin Sparrow Dave Esperou Bernard December 2014 F 1922 The French Civil Register from 1922 Air Britain Archive 2014 170 a b Bruno Parmentier 16 May 2002 Couzinet 22 Retrieved 24 October 2016 A travers l industrie aeronautique Couzinet Les Ailes 412 12 23 January 1929 Petites Nouvelles de France Les Ailes 449 15 23 January 1930 Peitites Nouvelles de France Les Ailes 453 15 20 February 1930 Les vols du Couzinet Les Ailes 490 9 6 November 1930 The Continental Sections Flight XXII 49 1412 5 December 1930 a b c Couzinet Flight XXII 50 1434 1439 12 December 1930 Private Flying and Club News Flight XXIII 24 537 12 June 1931 Au Bourget Les Ailes 496 14 20 November 1932 Bruno Parmentier 16 May 2002 Couzinet 21 Retrieved 24 October 2016 Nouvelles breves sportives L Echo d Alger 26 November 1932 p 4 Notule Techniques On Transporte Les Ailes 646 3 2 November 1933 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Couzinet 20 amp oldid 1123006571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
