Lignel 20 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Role | One or two seat tourer, racer and aerobatic aircraft |
National origin | France |
Manufacturer | Société Française de Construction Aéronautique (SFCA) |
Designer | Jean Lignel |
First flight | 15 April 1937 |
Number built | 2 |
The SFCA Lignel 20 was a French, single engine, low wing monoplane, one of a series of this type built by SFCA in the 1930s. It was capable of aerobatics but was primarily a racing aircraft.
Jean Lignel's early designs with SFCA were developments of André Maillet's 1933 low wing Maillet-Nening MN-A. The Lignel 20, his first design under his own name, had a good deal in common with the SFCA Maillet 20 though it was a smaller aircraft seating one or two rather than the Maillet 20's three and had a more powerful engine. [1] It was derived from the design of the SFCA Lignel 10 single seat fighter trainer, [2] which did not fly until February 1938. [3] By then the Lignel 20 had already flown. [4]
The Lignel 20 was a low wing cantilever monoplane of entirely wooden construction apart from its engine mounting. [1] The wing had a rectangular centre section with tapered outer panels, the latter with dihedral, which gave the wing an approximately elliptical plan. It was plywood skinned, with an external fabric covering. [2] There were split flaps on the inboard trailing edges and ailerons outboard. [1] [2]
The fuselage and empennage was built in a similar way. In the nose a 160 kW (220 hp) Renault 6Q-03, [5] an air-cooled, inverted six cylinder inline engine [1] supercharged to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) [2] was mounted on steel tube bearings. Behind the engine, the fuselage had an oval section. [1] The cockpit was behind the wing trailing edge; though primarily a single seat aircraft a passenger could be accommodated. The cockpit glazing was faired smoothly into a raised rear fuselage. [2]
Its straight-edged, round-topped fin carried a curved-edged unbalanced rudder which reached down to the keel. It worked in a small cut-out in the straight-tapered elevators, mounted on a triangular tailplane positioned mid-high on the fuselage; [2] the tailplane incidence could be adjusted on the ground. [1]
The Lignel 20 had retractable landing gear with mainwheeels on forked cantilever legs from the outer edges of the centre section, swinging outwards into wing recesses. There were covers attached to the inner side of the forks, acting as aircraft fairings when retraction was complete. [1] [2]
The Lignel 20 first flew on 15 April 1937. Two were built. [4] During 1937 the second of these was re-engined with a more powerful 210 kW (280 hp) Régnier R-161 which increased its maximum speed to 420 km/h (260 mph; 230 kn). It was redesignated the SFFCA Lignel 20S and first flew in November 1937. [4] It was announced at the 1938 Paris Salon that the Lignel 20S was currently being fitted with a supercharged, eight cylinder Régnier engine producing 270 kW (360 hp), in preparation for attempts in 1939 on world records in the 8 l (490 cu in) capacity engine category; [6] [7] with this engine the maximum speed was 460 km/h (290 mph). [5] Louis Céments was test flying it from SFCA's airfield at Buc in March 1939. [8]
The two Lignel 20s were entered for the 1937 Coupe Deutsch, a pure speed competition, but the first was lost in accident whilst attempting a speed record over 2,000 km (1,200 mi). After Caudron, the only other manufacturer with entries, pulled out, SFCA decided a competition with only a single aircraft in it was pointless and the Coupe Deutsch was cancelled for that year. [9]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938 [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Hanriot H.230 was a French twin-engined advanced trainer. The construction of the aircraft was initiated in 1936 by Hanriot's chief designer Montlaur. The aircraft was produced by the nationalized factory SNCAC.
The Potez 661 was a four-engined metal low-wing monoplane airliner developed in France just before World War II. The single example flew with Air Afrique on French colonial routes.
The Potez 662 was a higher powered and faster development of the Potez 661. Like its predecessor, it was a low wing, four engine monoplane carrying 12 passengers. Only one was built, serving with the French Air Ministry.
The Loire-Nieuport 161 was a single-seat, single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane fighter designed and built in France in 1935 to compete for a government contract. Accidents delayed its development and only three prototypes were completed.
The Blériot-SPAD S.91 was a French light-weight fighter aircraft. It would be later developed into the Blériot-SPAD S.510, the last biplane produced by the French aeronautic industries.
The Société Française de Construction Aéronautique (SFCA) was an aircraft manufacturing company based in Buc, France.
The Lorraine Hanriot LH.130 is a French racing aircraft designed and built in the early 1930s, to compete in the Coupe Michelin air races.
The Delanne 20-T was a French tandem wing aircraft designed as an aerodynamic model for a larger fighter aircraft. It was tested during 1939.
The SFCA Maillet 20 was a French three seat tourer built in 1935. The Armée de l'Air ordered 30 for training and liaison and several were raced. The aircraft was developed through 1935 via cockpit layout and canopy changes to the provision of retracting landing gear.
The SFCA Lignel 10 was a French single seat aircraft designed to bridge a training gap between basic trainers and front-line fighters. The military requirement was soon dropped and only one was built.
The SFCA Taupin was a French tandem-wing aircraft, designed to provide a simple, stable and safe aircraft able to take-off and land in small spaces.
The Dewoitine D.430 was a three-engine, high-wing monoplane designed for policing and other roles in France's colonies. It did not go into production.
The Morane-Saulnier MS.350 was a French aerobatic trainer flown in 1936. Only one was built but it had a long career, flying post-war until the 1960s.
The Caudron C.860 was a single engine, single seat monoplane ordered by the French government as a long distance communications aircraft. First flown in 1938, it was also expected to set speed and altitude records but the outbreak of World War II ended developments.
The Nieuport-Delage NiD 540 was a high wing, eight seat, single engine airliner, built in France and first flown in 1930. It did not reach production.
The Neiuport-Delage NiD 690 was a French all-metal, single-engined colonial policing aircraft, built for a competitive government contract. Its unusual rear fuselage gave a wide field of downward machine gun fire. Only two examples were built.
The Dewoitine D.720 T3 was a French reconnaissance/cooperation aircraft built by Dewoitine in the late 1930s.
The SFCA Lignel 161 was a French trainer aircraft built in the late 1930s.
The SCAL FB.40 was a French, side-by-side seat biplane trainer chosen in 1938 for widespread use in the Aviation Populaire programme. The Second World War prevented large scale production but at least two were restored post-war, one becoming a familiar rally participant.
The SCAL FB.30 was a French twin boom, pusher configuration, two seat civil sport and touring aircraft designed by Antoine Bassou in the mid-1930s. Three, with different engines, were built and flown.