Dassault MD 315 Flamant
Flamant | |
---|---|
Dassault Flamant at the 2010 ILA Berlin Air Show | |
Role | Military transport aircraft |
Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation |
First flight | 6 July 1947 (MD.315) |
Introduction | 1948 |
Retired | 1981 |
Primary users | Cambodian Air Force
|
Number built | 325 [1] |
The Dassault MD 315 Flamant is a French light twin-engined transport airplane built shortly after
Design and development
Design work on a twin-engined light transport started in
Three main versions of the aircraft now named Flamant (Flamingo in French) were produced. The MD 315 ten-seat colonial communication aircraft (first flown on 6 July 1947), the MD 312 six-seat transport aircraft (first flown on 27 April 1950), and the MD 311 navigation trainer (first flown on 23 March 1948). The MD 311 had a distinctive glazed nose for its role as both a bombing and navigation trainer.
Operational history
The first Flamant was delivered to the
The aircraft was used for pilot training, navigation training, light transport, maritime surveillance and light ground attack. During the
Variants
- MB 30-1
- Original proposals for a bombing and navigation trainer.
- MB 30-2
- Original proposals for a medical and colonial roles.
- MB 30-3
- Original proposals for a liaison and training aircraft.
- MD 303
- Prototype, one built, powered by two 310 kW (410 hp) Béarn 6D engines.[3]
- MD 311
- Bombing, navigation and photography training aircraft, 41 built (1 prototype + 40 production), powered by two 310 kW (410 hp) SNECMA 12S engines.[4]
- MD 312
- Multi-engine pilot trainer and six-seat transport and communications aircraft, 118 built, powered by two 310 kW (410 hp) SNECMA 12S engines.[5]
- MD 312M
- Utility aircraft for French Navy. 25 built.[5]
- MD 312B
- Experimental version with a single fin, rectangular fuselage windows, and a heavier loaded weight. One built, powered by two 310 kW (410 hp) Mirage IVradar development.
- MD 315
- Ten-seat utility transport aircraft, 137 built, powered by two 310 kW (410 hp) SNECMA 12Sengines.
- MD 316T
- One prototype fitted with a single-finned tail, and two 600 kW (800 hp) Wright R-1300-CB7A1 Cycloneradial piston engines.
- MD 316X
- One MD 315 aircraft fitted with two 610 kW (820 hp) SNECMA 14X Super Mars radial piston engines.
Operators
- Cambodian Air Force(MD 315)
- Cameroon Air Force (MD 315)
- French Air Force(MD 315, MD 312, MD 311)
- French Navy (MD 312)
- Madagascar Aeronaval Force(MD 315, MD 312)
- Niger Air Force (one MD 312 received in the 1960s)[6]
- Republic of Vietnam Air Force(MD 312, MD 315)
- Tunisian Air Force (MD 312)
Specifications (MD 315)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54[7]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 10 passengers
- Length: 12.50 m (41 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 20.70 m (67 ft 11 in)
- Height: 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 47.2 m2 (508 sq ft)
- Aspect ratio: 8.9:1
- Empty weight: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
- Gross weight: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Renault 12S 02-201 air-cooled inverted V12 engines, 430 kW (580 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 380 km/h (240 mph, 210 kn)
- Cruise speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn)
- Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.00 m/s (985 ft/min)
- Takeoff distance to 15 m (50 ft): 460 m (1,510 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 2 × .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns[8]
- Hardpoints: 4[8] , with provisions to carry combinations of:
See also
Related lists
Citations
- ^ Dassault Aviation
- ^ COIN: French Counter-Insurgency Aircraft, 1946–1965 Pt.1
- ^ Francillon 1993, p. 49.
- ^ Francillon 1993, p. 54.
- ^ a b Francillon 1993, p. 55.
- ^ Delalande, Arnaud (15 March 2018). "Niger's desert warriors". Key Aero.
- ^ Bridgman 1953, pp. 133–134.
- ^ a b c d Francillon 1993, p. 57.
Bibliography
- Bridgman, Leonard (ed.) Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54. London:Jane's, 1953.
- Chillon, Jacques; Dubois, Jean-Pierre & Wegg, John (1980). French Post-War Transport Aircraft. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-078-2.
- Cuny, Jean (1989). Les avions de combat français, 2: Chasse lourde, bombardement, assaut, exploration [French Combat Aircraft 2: Heavy Fighters, Bombers, Attack, Reconnaissance]. Docavia (in French). Vol. 30. Ed. Larivière. OCLC 36836833.
- Francillon, René J. "Flamant — Dassault's Workhorse". Air Enthusiast, 49, March to May 1993. pp. 48–59.