Bernard 18

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Bernard 18GR Aero Digest September 1927.jpg
Bernard 18GR
General information
TypePrototype airliner
Manufacturer Bernard
Designer
Number built2

The Bernard 18 was a prototype airliner developed in France in the 1920s. One of the two prototypes built was used in an abortive transatlantic crossing attempt and a number of failed attempts for aerial records.

Contents

Development

The aircraft was originally developed in response to a specification for CIDNA for an eight-seat airliner, but the second incarnation of Bernard's aircraft manufacturing company went bankrupt before production could take place.

When the company was revived in 1927, it built a second example specifically for Paul Tarascon to make an attempt at the Orteig Prize. The space originally reserved for passenger seating was filled with fuel tanks to give the plane an expected range of 6,600 km (4,100 mi). It was also fitted with undercarriage that could be jettisoned after takeoff to save weight. Designated 18GR (for Grand Raid) and christened Oiseau Tango ("Tango Bird", after its bright yellow colour, intended to assist rescue efforts in case of a ditching), it was discovered that with the necessary fuel load, the aircraft could not actually become airborne. After Charles Lindbergh successfully claimed the prize, the 18GR was converted back to standard 18T configuration and sold to an operator in Canada.

Variants

Specifications (18T)

Bernard 18 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile-Salon1926 Bernard 18 3-view L'Aerophile-Salon1926.png
Bernard 18 3-view drawing from L'Aérophile-Salon1926

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

    Bibliography