70 Arc-en-Ciel
Role Long-range commercial monoplane
Manufacturer Société des Avions René Couzinet
First flight 11 February 1932
Introduction May 1934
Primary user Aéropostale
Produced 3

The Couzinet 70 was a 1930s French three-engined commercial monoplane built by Société des Avions René Couzinet founded by René Couzinet.

Design and developments

The Couzinet 70 Arc-en-Ciel III ('Rainbow') was developed from the 1920s Couzinet 10 Arc-en-Ciel, which first flew on 7 May 1928, the Couzinet 11 and Couzinet 40. The slightly larger span Couzinet 70 was developed originally as a mail plane for use of Aéropostale's South Atlantic service. It was a low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. The aircraft was powered by three Hispano-Suiza 12Nb inline piston engines. The two wing mounted engines could be accessed in flight through tunnels in the wing. After route-proving in 1933 the aircraft was modified and re-designated the Couzinet 71 and entered service with Aéropostale in May 1934.

The Couzinet 70 Arc-en-Ciel at Fernando de Noronha, Brazil on 14 June 1934.

Variants

10 Arc en Ciel
The original prototype four place long range aircraft, later converted to the Couzinet 11
11 Arc en Ciel II
Converted from the Couzinet 10 but crashing on 8 August 1928
70 Arc en Ciel III
Three-engined Hispano-Suiza 12Nb powered prototype, one built and converted to a Couzinet 71
71
Prototype modified for service as a mailplane, with lengthened nose and strut-braced tailplane.[1]

Operators

 France
 Spain

Specifications (70/71)

Couzinet 70 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile February 1933

General characteristics

  • Crew: Four
  • Length: 16.15 m (52 ft 11.75 in)
  • Wingspan: 30 m (98 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 4.0 m (13 ft 1.5 in)
  • Wing area: 90 m2 (968.78 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 7,310 kg (16,116 lb)
  • Gross weight: 16,790 kg (37,015 lb)
  • Powerplant: 3 × Hispano-Suiza 12Nb V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine , 485 kW (650 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 280 km/h (174 mph, 151 kn)
  • Range: 6,800 km (4,225 mi, 3,671 nmi)

References

  1. ↑ Bernard, Martin; Sparrow, Dave; Espérou, Bernard (December 2014). "F-1922 - The French Civil Register from 1922". Air Britain Archive: 2014/170.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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