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BLOCH MB220

 


Technical Specifications
Type
Twin-engine plane of Civil Transport with low wings and retractable landing gear
Date first flight
Juny 11, 1936
Wingspan
22,82 m 
Lenght
19,59 m
Height
4,70 m 
Wing Area
72 m2 
Empty Weight
6160 Kg 
Max. Takeoff Weight
9360 Kg 
Cruising Speed
280 km/h. 
Maximum Speed
350 km/h at 2400 m
Climbing Speed
2000m in 6mn
Service ceilling
7500m 
Range
1400kms
Crew
3 or 4 Men
Motorization
2 Engines Gnôme Rhône 14N16 of 915 Hp each
Armament
Capacity: 16 passengers

 


Production

17 Bloch MB220 were built for Air France since the date of the first flight on June 11, 1936.

To date, of the 17 devices manufactured, 17 are listed in the list below :


Historical

In 1935, Marcel Bloch launched the study of a modern twin-engine transport extrapolated from his MB210 bloch bomber, who made his first flight in November 1934. The new aircraft takes over the wing, the engine and the empennage of the bomber. . Designated Bloch MB220, it is presented as a cantilever low wing monoplane of metal construction, powered by two Gnôme Rhône 14 Kirs / jrs driving three-blade propellers with variable pitch and having a re-entrant train. Air France, which wants to modernize its fleet, orders and finances the prototype at Sté Bloch. The construction was fast thanks to the use of already existing elements, and on June 11, 1936, the prototype made its first flight to Villacoublay. The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 350km / h with a cruising speed of 280km / h, and a range of 1400km.

Air France thus confirmed its interest in the aircraft, and ordered 16 aircraft, the first five to be delivered before the end of June 1937. The Bloch company built the aircraft in its Courbevoie and Mérignac workshops, and Air France took care of the installation. inside. It is treated with care: the passengers, divided into two cabins of 6 and 10 passengers have a good soundproofing, heating, individual ventilation and seats "Pullman" with adjustable backrest. The crew consists of the pilot and co-pilot, a steward and a radio.

All manufactured aircraft will be delivered to Air France which will give each of them a French region name, the last being delivered in June 1939. The standard aircraft differ from the prototype in lengthening the fuselage (34cm) to increase the carrying capacity of the MB220 and by the adoption of Gnôme Rhône 14N engines more reliable than the 14K, even if it turned out to be the case, that these engines suffered from problems of quality of manufacture, which paradoxically, n will not exist on identical engines manufactured under license in Romania ...

Air France put the new aircraft into service, firstly on the Paris-Lyon-Marseille line on July 20, 1937, before using it on European lines to London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and further east towards Prague, Budapest, ... Bloch MB 220, the F-AOHJ "Poitou" who transported Edouard Daladier, the President of the Council, for his trip to Munich in November 1938, when he signed with Chamberlain the agreements from Munich, thus abandoning Czechoslovakia to Hitler.

In September 1939, the Air Force cruelly lacking transport planes, requisitioned many civil aircraft including Bloch MB220 Air France, except three aircraft that the company managed to keep for its line to Marseille. Aircraft integrated in the Air Force, received a standard camouflage, and will be used in the SAT (Air Transport Sections). At the Armistice, 13 Bloch MB220 are listed in the Free Zone, and regular services can resume in the colors of Air France. 3 Bloch MB220, present in AFN, will be captured by F.AF.L and will perform under the colors of the Cross of Lorraine, regular flights Algiers-Bone-Tunis. On November 11, 1942, the Germans invaded the Free Zone and seized many aircraft: 11 MB 220 will be captured and sold to Lufthansa, which operated until June 1944 on routes between Berlin and Vienna.

After the war, Air France continued to use the 5 Bloch MB220 survivors. Restored by Wright Cyclones R-1820-97 and designated MB221, they will fly until spare parts are exhausted.


Versions

The Bloch MB220 knew only one derivative version : the Bloch MB221 powered by Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 : 6 Bloch MB220 will be transformed after the War.


Bibliography

1 ) _ Magazine "Avions" : Special issue No29
- "Le Bloch 220 : le DC3 Français"

 


Photos Album

 


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