| Bloch MB.141 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Two seat light aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Marcel Bloch |
| First flight | July 1934 |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Bloch MB.81 |
The Bloch MB.141 was a French all-metal two seat light aircraft derived from the Bloch MB.81 air ambulance. Only one was built.
The MB.141 was a low wing cantilever monoplane with a three part wing consisting of a rectangular plan centre section and trapezoidal outer panels. It was built around two spars and metal skinned; the leading edges were removable for maintenance purposes and the trailing edges carried high aspect ratio ailerons which filled about two-thirds of the outer panels. [1]
Its 110 kW (150 hp) five cylinder Hispano-Suiza 5Q radial engine (a licence-built Wright R-540) was mounted in the nose within a narrow-chord cowling. Behind it the fuselage was flat-sided, constructed from panels linked by frames which left the interior free of cross-bracing. The well-appointed cabin was 3.16 m (10.4 ft) long with two seats in tandem, fitted with dual controls, and a luggage space behind. The forward seat was behind a two piece, V-shaped windscreen and on each side there was a pair of windows; on the port side the largest of these was in the large, trapezoidal door.
Behind the cabin the fuselage tapered to a conventional tail with straight-tapered, square-tipped surfaces. The tailplane and elevator were mounted near the top of the fuselage and well ahead of the rudder hinge. The control surfaces were not balanced. [1]
The MB.141 had a fixed tail wheel undercarriage with a track of 2.80 m (9.2 ft); its main wheels were mounted on vertical, faired oleo struts and had brakes operated by a lever on the control column. Its small, castoring tail wheel also had a shock absorber. [1]
Its first flights were made towards the end of July 1934, piloted by Bloch's test pilot Zacharie Heu, who spoke highly of its handling. [2] It has been described as "too heavy", [3] possibly underpowered as it weighed a little more than the MB.81 but had a less powerful engine. It was also expensive to construct, so only one MB.141 was built. [3]
It is unusual for an unflown prototype aircraft to be the first prize in a lottery but in April 1934 the MB.141 was donated by Marcel Bloch to the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique. [1] The lottery was advertised in the French aviation press [4] and drawn on 22 July 1934; the winning ticket was announced at the end of August. [5]
Data fromLes Ailes April 1934 [1]
General characteristics
Performance
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