Bloch MB.300

The Bloch MB.300 "Pacifique" (a.k.a. La Grosse Julie, "Big Julie") was a French all-metal three-engine monoplane that was developed to enter service as an Air France airliner. Though a single prototype was produced by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch in 1935, it was eventually rejected by Air France circa 1938.

MB.300
Role Civil Airliner
Manufacturer Société des Avions Marcel Bloch
First flight 1935
Introduction 1938
Primary users Air France
Spain
Number built 1

Design and development

Test flight happened on November 15 or November 16, 1935 at the Villacoublay airfield with test pilots André Curvale and Jean Lapeyr. The prototype (F-AONB) went under a serie of modifications in early 1936 then again in March 1937. Passengers number was then reduced from 30 to 24.

It officially entered in service with the Air France fleet in January 1938 (as F-AOUI). Its whereabouts are unknown, yet reports say it was delivered to Spain.[1]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4
  • Capacity: 27 passengers daytime, 12 passenger sleeper or 4,580 kg (10,100 lb) payload
  • Length: 24.9 m (81 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 25.9 m (85 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 6.75 m (22 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 100 m2 (1,100 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 9,000 kg (19,842 lb)
  • Gross weight: 13,580 kg (29,939 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-16 14-cyl. two-row air-cooled piston engines, 682 kW (915 hp) each at 1,750 m (5,741 ft)
    (left hand rotation)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-17 14-cyl. two-row air-cooled piston engines, 682 kW (915 hp) at 1,750 m (5,740 ft)
    (right hand rotation)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch airscrews

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 350 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn) at 2,200 m (7,200 ft)
  • Minimum control speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Landing speed: 75 km/h (47 mph; 40 kn)
  • Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes
  1. "DassaultAviation.com MB.300 page". Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  2. Grey, C.G. (1938). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson, Low & Marston. pp. 107c–108c.

References
  • Grey, C.G. (1938). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson, Low & Marston.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.