Bleriot-SPAD S.46

S.46

Manufacturer: Blériot
First flight: June 16, 1921
Primary user: Franco-Roumaine
Number built: ca. 40

The Bleriot-SPAD S.46 was a small French airliner of the 1920s, developed from the S.33. Like its predecessor, it was a conventional biplane that seated four passengers in an enclosed cabin while the pilot and occasionally a fifth passenger rode in an open cockpit. The S.46 had a redesigned wing of longer span and a far more powerful engine. The type was employed by Franco-Roumaine, which purchased 38 out of the 40 examples produced for use on their continental European routes.

In 1922 one of the S.46s was modified to use a more powerful Lorraine engine of 336 kW (450 hp) and redesignated S.86. In 1929 this was changed to a Hispano-Suiza engine in the same power range and redesignated S.126.

In 1925, the surviving 34 Franco-Roumaine aircraft were recalled to Blériot where they underwent remanufacture to incorporate various refinements. These refurbished aircraft were redesignated S.66. One of these aircraft was subsequently modified to use a more powerful Lorraine engine of 336 kW (450 hp) and redesignated S.116.

Variants

S.46 - Single-engined passenger airliner.
S.86 - One S.46 was modified when it was fitted with the more powerful 450-hp (336-kW) Lorraine engine.
S.126 - The S.86 was further modified again, when it was fitted with a 450-hp (336-kW) Hispano-Suiza 12 Ha engine.
S.66 - 38 remanufactured S.46s.
S.116 - One S.66 was modified with the more powerful 450-hp (336-kW) Renault 12Ja engine

Operators

France

Franco-Roumaine (38 aircraft)

Specifications (S.46)

General characteristics

Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 5 passengers
Length: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 12.60 m (41 ft 4 in)
Height: 3.18 m (10 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 47 sq metres (506 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,417 kg (3,124 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,270 kg (5,000 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— Lorraine-Dietrich 12Da, 276 kW (370 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 214 km/h (133 mph)
Range: 800 km (500 miles)
Service ceiling: 5,050 m (16,560 ft)
Rate of climb: 2.7 m/s (540 ft/min)

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 163.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 42.
aviafrance.com

Related development S.33 - S.50 - S.56

Bleriot-SPAD S.46 Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia