The ROUSSEL 30 bomber fighter
was conceived around the concept of the "light fighter", just
like the Caudron Cr714. Its design is the result of a private
initiative, from M. ROUSSEL, who is none other than the brother
of the designer of the Bloch MB150. The production of the prototype
is quite fast, as only eight months were required until the first
flight in April 1939 on the basis of Etampes. This first flight
demonstrates the qualities of the aircraft, which reaches a maximum
speed of 520 km / h. It is then entrusted to the CEMA (Center
of Test of the Air Equipment) to continue official tests which
confirmed its qualities.
Small in size, the ROUSSEL
30 is of metallic structure and is powered by a Gnome-Rhone engine
of 690 hp, this one to be eventually replaced by a Gnome-Rhone,
14 M, 800 hp . The aircraft is capable of carrying a 250 kg bomb
under its fuselage. The armament of the ROUSSEL 30 is composed
of two Hispano-Suiza HS-404 20mm guns, but due to lack of availability
of these weapons reserved for first-line planes, it receives two
Oerlikon AS of the same caliber of 20 mm.
In front of the advance
of the German troops, the ROUSSEL 30 was dismantled and transferred
to Bordeaux, where it burned unfortunately in the fire of its
hangar.
