Wibault 170 Tornade

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Wib 170C.1 Tornade | logo = | logo_size = | image = Wibault 130 L'Aéronautique June,1928.jpg | alt = | caption = 130 C.1 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Single seat [[fighter aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[France]] | manufacturer = [[Wibault|Avions Michel Wibault]] | design_group = | designer = [[Michel Wibault]] | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 2 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1928 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Wibault 13C.1 Trombe''' (Whirlwind), later known as the '''Wib 130C.1 Trombe''' was a single seat, [[parasol wing]] lightweight [[fighter aircraft]] designed and built in [[France]] in the 1920s. It was developed into the more powerful '''Wib 170C.1 Tornade''' (Tornado) but government interest in lightweight fighters soon waned.

==Design and development==

The Wib 13 was Avions Marcel Wibault's response to a call from the Service Technique de l'Aéronautique (S.T.Aé, Technical Department of Aeronautics) for a ''chasseur légere'' (light fighter). The call, which set out what became known as the ''Jockey'' programme, was intended to reduce the ever-increasing weight and cost of fighters. The general design of the Wib 13 followed the pattern set by Wibault's earlier single seat, parasol wing fighters, the [[Wibault 3|Wib 3]] and [[Wibault 7|Wib 7]] but it was smaller and lighter. An all-metal aircraft, its structure was mostly [[Duralumin]] covered with narrow aluminium strips applied longitudinally. The parasol wing was straight edged and of constant [[chord (aircraft)|chord]], braced to the lower [[fuselage]] with a pair of parallel [[strut]]s on each side which met the wing at about mid-span and were strengthened by a pair of [[jury strut]]s to the wing underside. There were [[cabane strut]]s over the fuselage and a [[trailing edge]] cut-out in the wing over the pilot's [[cockpit]] to enhance his visibility. A pair of [[synchronization gear|synchronised]] {{Convert|7.7|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} [[Vickers machine gun]]s fixed to the fuselage fired forwards through the [[propeller (aircraft)|propeller]] arc. The Wib 13's initially [[cantilever]] [[tailplane]] was lowered after flight testing and external bracing added. Tailplane and [[fin]] were nearly triangular, the latter bearing a [[rudder]] which extended down to the [[fuselage]] base, moving between split [[elevator (aircraft)|elevators]].<ref name=G&S/>

The Wib 13's {{convert|400|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} water-cooled [[V-12 engine|V-12]] [[Hispano-Suiza 12J]]b engine was totally enclosed under a [[aircraft fairing|cowling]] which fitted closely around each cylinder bank. It drove a two blade [[propeller (aircraft)|propeller]] and was cooled by a [[radiator (engine cooling)|radiator]] on the fuselage underside at the rear of the engine. Behind the engine the fuselage was flat sided. The fighter had a fixed [[conventional undercarriage]] with mainwheels on a split axle attached to the fuselage underside, supported by a pair of V-struts; there was a small tailskid.<ref name=G&S/>

By the time the aircraft was flight tested at [[Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base|Villacoublay]] in 1926 it was known as the Wib 130;<ref name=G&S/> around this time several French manufacturers settled on a consistent three digit form for their types numbers. It was assessed as manoeuvrable and robust but somewhat underpowered. Wibault therefore produced the '''Wib 170 Tornade''', which used the same wings, empennage, undercarriage and armament as the Wib 130 but had a more powerful [[Hispano-Suiza 12J]]b [[V-12 engine]] which provided {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}}. The fuselage was similar in construction and appearance to that of its predecessor though slightly ({{convert|330|mm|in|abbr=on|0}}) longer. The fuel capacity was increased by 14%. The extra power improved the maximum speed at sea level by 13%, though the empty weight was up by 8%.<ref name=G&S/>

The Tornade was first seen in public at the Paris ''Salon d'Aéronautique'' in December 1928 and was test flown at Villacoublay early the following year. As well as being faster it had a significantly better climb rate than the Trombe and received all-round good reports. By this time, though the S.T.Aé had lost faith in the chasseur legére concept and wrote off the Jockey programme as a failure.<ref name=G&S/>

==Variants== C.1=Chasseur (fighter), single seat ;Wib 130 Trombe C.1: {{convert|400|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} [[Hispano-Suiza 12J]]b engine. One built. ;Wib 170 Tornade C.1: {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} [[Hispano-Suiza 12H]]b engine. Two built.

==Specifications (Wib 170 Tornade)== [[File:Wibault_13_C.1_3-view_L'Air_April_15,1928.png|thumb|Wibault 13 C.1 3-view drawing from L'Air April 15,1928]] {{Aircraft specs |ref=Green & Swanborough p.597<ref name=G&S/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=279 |max speed note=at sea level |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=9,600 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude=9.15 min to 5,000 m (16,405 ft) |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |more performance=  |armament= *'''Fuselage guns''' 2×{{Convert|7.7|mm|in|3|abbr=on}} [[synchronization gear|synchronised]] [[Vickers machine gun]]s firing through the propeller arc. }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{commons category|Wibault 170}} <references>

<ref name=G&S>{{cite book |last=Green |first=William |first2= Gordon|last2= Swanborough |title=The Complete Book of Fighters |year=1994|publisher=Salamander Books|location=Godalming, UK|isbn=1-85833-777-1|pages=597}}</ref>

</references>   {{Wibault aircraft}}

[[Category:Parasol-wing aircraft]] [[Category:1920s French fighter aircraft]] [[Category:Wibault aircraft|Wib 170]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]