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Bloch MB.200
The MB.200 was a French bomber aircraft of the 1930s designed and built by Societé des Avions Marcel Bloch. A twin-engined high-winged monoplane with a fixed undercarriage, over 200 MB.200s were built for the French Air Force, and the type was also licence built by Czechoslovakia, but it soon became obsolete, and was largely phased out by the start of the Second World War.
History
The Bloch MB.200 was designed in response to a 1932 requirement for a new day/night bomber to equip the French Air Force. It was a high-winged all-metal cantilever monoplane, with a slab-sided fuselage, powered by two Gnome-Rhône 14K radial engines. It had a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and featured an enclosed cockpit for the pilots. Defensive machine guns were in nose and dorsal gun turrets and a under fuselage gondola.[1]
The first of three prototypes flew on 26 June 1933.[1][2] As one of the winning designs for the competition, (the other was the larger Farman F.221),[1] an initial order for 30 MB.200s was placed on 1 January 1934,[2] entering service late in that year. Further orders followed, and the MB.200 equipped 12 French squadrons by the end of 1935.[1] Production in France totalled over 208 aircraft (4 by Bloch, 19 by Breguet, 19 by Loire, 45 by Hanriot, 10 by SNCASO and 111 by Potez.[3]
Czechoslovakia chose the MB.200 as part of a modernisation program for its air force of the mid 1930s. Although at the rate of aircraft development at that time, the MB.200 would quickly become obsolete, the Czechoslovakians needed a quick solution involving the license production of a proven design, as their own aircraft industry did not have sufficient development experience with such a large aircraft, or with all-metal airframes and stressed-skin construction, placing an initial order for 74 aircraft. After some delays, both Aero and Avia began license-production in 1937, with a total of about 124 built.[1] Czechoslovakian MB.200s were basically similar to their French counterparts, with differences in defensive armament and other equipment.
The gradual German conquest of Czechoslovakia meant that MB.200s eventually passed under their control, including aircraft that were still coming off the production line. As well as serving in the German Luftwaffe, some bombers were distributed to Bulgaria.
Variants
- MB.200.01 - single prototype
- MB.200B.4 - main production version
Operators
- Template:Country data Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Air Force - Purchased 12 ex-Czech MB.200s from Germany in 1939, using them as trainers.[4]
- Template:CZS
- Czech Air Force
- Template:FRA
- Armée de l'Air (from 1935)
- Template:Country data Germany
- Luftwaffe (captured)
Specifications (MB.200B.4)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: Four
- Length: 16.00 m (52 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 22.45 m (73 ft 8 in)
- Height: 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 62.50 m² (721 ft²)
- Empty weight: 4,300 kg (9,480 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,480 kg (16,490 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Gnome-Rhône 14Kirs , 649 kW (870 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 285 km/h (155 kn, 178 mph)
- Range: 1,000 km (540 nmi, 621 mi)
- Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,200 ft)
- Rate of climb: 260 m/min (852 ft/min)
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns (one for each defensive post).
- Bombs: 1,200 kg (2,640 lb) of bombs
See also
Related development
Related lists
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References
- Angelucci, Enzo. World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. London, Jane's Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0 7106 0148 4.
- Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "Balkan Interlude - The Bulgarian Air Force in WWII". Air Enthusiast. Issue 39, May–August 1989. Bromley, Kent: Tri-Service Press, pp. 58–74. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Taylor, Michael J.H. Warplanes of the World 1918-1939. London:Ian Allen, 1981. ISBN 0 7710 1078 1.
- "Military Bloch aircraft : MB 200". Dassault Aviation. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
Template:Aero Vodochody aircraft Template:Bloch aircraft
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
de:Bloch MB.200 fr:Bloch MB.200 nl:Bloch MB.200 ja:MB.200 (航空機) ru:Bloch MB.200
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bloch MB.200". |
