Wibault 280

{{Short description|Type of aircraft}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Wibault 280-T | logo = | logo_size = | image = Wibault283t mae.jpg | alt = | caption = Scale model of Wibault 283.T12 F-AMYF | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Passenger transport monoplane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = [[Wibault]] | design_group = | designer = [[Michel Wibault]] | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = [[Air France]] | more_users = [[Air Union]]<br> [[Aero Portuguesa]] | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1930 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }} The '''Wibault 280-T''' was a [[monoplane]] [[trimotor]] [[airliner]] designed and produced by the French aircraft manufacturer [[Wibault]]. Designed to accommodate up to 12 passengers in its largest variant, development of the aircraft was financially backed by the Penhoët shipyards, which led to the aircraft alternatively being referred to as 'Penhoët Wibault'.<ref>[http://corporate.airfrance.com/airfrancelasaga/lasaga/en/index_streaming.htm AIR FRANCE : La Saga] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206170517/http://corporate.airfrance.com/airfrancelasaga/lasaga/en/index_streaming.htm |date=6 February 2015 }}</ref>

==Development== Development of what would become the Wibault 280 was heavily financed by the [[Penhoët]] shipyards of [[St Nazaire]]. During November 1930, the prototype ''Penhoët Wibault 280-T'' performed its [[maiden flight]] from [[Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base|Villacoublay]]. It was powered by three 300 hp (224 kW) [[Hispano-Wright 9Q]]a [[radial engine]]s, although these were soon replaced by three [[Gnome-Rhône 7K]]b, after which the aircraft was redesignated the ''Wibault 281-T''.

A second aircraft was built to the 281 standard but then it was converted to a ''Wibault 282-T'' with three 350 hp (261 kW) [[Gnome-Rhône 7K]]d engines and room for 12 passengers, seven further aircraft were built as 282s. Some of the 282s were operated by [[Air Union]] on the Paris-London ''Voile d'Or'' ("Golden Clipper") service in 1933. During 1934, [[Air France]] took delivery of the first of ten ''Wibault 283-T''s which had an increased fuel capacity and modified tail. Some of the 282s were subsequently converted to 283 standard. Several commercial aircraft were later taken over as military transports.

==Design== The Wibault 280 was an all-metal [[cantilever]] [[monoplane]] [[trimotor]] [[airliner]]. The fuselage was constructed out of three separate sections, which were sized as such to permit their transportation by rail.<ref name = "naca 2"/> The forward section of the fuselage contained the central engine bay, [[Firewall (engine)|firewall]], and the baggage compartment. The central section of the fuselage contains the cockpit and passenger cabins; the former seated a flight crew of two in a side-by-side arrangement on adjustable seats, both positions being provided with flight controls.<ref name = "naca 2"/> The cockpit had numerous windows that were arranged so that the pilots were able to readily view multiple angles, including upwards and rearwards.<ref name = "naca 2"/>

The passenger cabin was relatively spacious, being able to accommodate up to ten passengers and providing ample height for the average person to move around entirely upright.<ref name = "naca 2">NACA 1931, p. 2.</ref> Amenities included an adjustable ventilation system and the placement of a large window besides every seat. The rear of the passenger cabin is occupied by the [[aircraft lavatory|lavatory]] and the entrance door.<ref name = "naca 23">NACA 1931, pp. 2-3.</ref> The third and rearmost section of the fuselage comprised a freight compartment, which was accessible via an external door, and a [[radio set]]; the rearmost element of the section was a sternpost that supported the tail surfaces.<ref name = "naca 3">NACA 1931, p. 3.</ref> The horizontal [[empennage]] consisted of a stabilizer, which was adjustable mid-flight, and a two-part unbalanced [[Elevator (aeronautics)|elevator]]. The vertical empennage comprised a [[fin]] and an unbalanced [[rudder]].<ref name = "naca 23"/> All the tail surfaces are covered with sheet metal, as were the walls of the passenger cabin and the exterior covering. The structure of the fuselage comprised several T-section [[longeron]]s.<ref name = "naca 23"/>

The Wibault 280 was originally powered by a total of three [[Hispano-Wright 9Qa]] air-cooled [[radial engine]]s, which had provided a total power output of 936 hp.<ref name = "naca 3"/> Provisions for the use of alternative engines of roughly the same power, such as the [[Gnome-Rhône 7Kd]], were made from the onset. These engines were arranged with the central engine being mounted within the aircraft's nose while the lateral engines were mounted on bearers that were connected to the [[leading edge]] of the wing.<ref name = "naca 3"/> These engines drove [[Ratier]]-built metal [[Variable-pitch propeller (aeronautics)|variable-pitch propeller]]s and were fitted with lengthy exhaust pipes that functioned as [[muffler|silencer]]s. Fuel was housed in two wing-mounted tanks which had a combined capacity of 1,200 litres (317 gallons); these were designed with a mechanism that allowed for the tanks to be dropped mid-flight as an emergency measure.<ref name = "naca 3"/>

It had a relatively low-mounted wing, the floor of the fuselage being run directly upon the two I-shaped [[duralumin]] [[Spar (aeronautics)|spars]] of this wing; advantages of this configuration included the wing being nearer to the ground and thus easier to conduct most ground-based inspection and maintenance activities, as well as the wing providing some shielding for the passengers in the event of an accident.<ref name = "naca 12"/> The wing was made up of three sections, these being the central rectangular section and two [[tapered|tapering]] lateral parts. The central section, which maintained consistent thickness and [[Chord (aeronautics)|chord]], supported the fuselage, engine mounts, and the [[landing gear|undercarriage]].<ref name = "naca 1">NACA 1931, p. 1.</ref> The lateral parts decreased in thickness and thus increased the wing's lateral [[Dihedral (aeronautics)|dihedral]]; relatively narrow [[aileron]]s were hinged (upon [[ball bearing]]s) to the [[trailing edge]] of these lateral parts. Both of the wing spars were braced so that stresses would be evenly conveyed between them, while the duralumin [[rib]]s were reinforced using [[rivet]]ted stiffeners; sheet metal panels covered the exterior.<ref name = "naca 12">NACA 1931, pp. 1-2.</ref>

The [[landing gear|undercarriage]], which was fitted with non-continuous elbow-type [[axle]]s, had a structure that comprised a pair of independent flexible trihedrals.<ref name = "naca 4"/> The compact axles connected with [[Safran Landing Systems|Messier]]-supplied [[oleo strut|oleo]]-[[pneumatic]] [[shock absorbers]]; the wheels were equipped with brakes in order to reduce the landing distance required. While the main undercarriage was fitted with wheels, the tail element comprised a [[casting|cast]] light alloy skid that was mounted directly underneath the sternpost.<ref name = "naca 4">NACA 1931, p. 4.</ref>

==Accidents and incidents== * On 9 May 1934, Wibault 282-T F-AMHP of Air France [[1934 Air France Wibault 282T crash|crashed]] into the [[English Channel]] off [[Dungeness (headland)|Dungeness]], [[Kent]], [[United Kingdom]], killing all six people on board.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} * On 19 May 1934, a ''Golden Clipper'' of Air France crash-landed on a [[cricket pitch]] adjacent to [[Croydon Airport]], [[Surrey]], United Kingdom, due to fuel exhaustion. Only one of the ten people on board was injured.<ref name=Times210534>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Mishap to French Air Liner |date=21 May 1934 |page=7 |issue=46759 |column=F}}</ref> * On 24 December 1937, Wibault-Penhoët 283.T12 (c/n 11) F-AMYD of Air France crashed near Zhůří (currently part of [[Rejštejn]]), Czechoslovakia, due to a navigational error. The aircraft was supposed to land at [[Prague]], but was directed by controllers to fly south and crashed in foggy, snowy and dark conditions after {{convert|120|km|abbr=on}}. Two pilots and a single passenger were killed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Letecká nehoda v r. 1937 na Zhůří u Kvildy |url=http://www.kvilda.org/chatakvilda/fr.asp?tab=chatakvilda&id=22&burl=&pt=PR |access-date=15 January 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Rudder of Wibault-Penhoët 283.T12 F-AMYD.jpg|thumb|Rudder of Penhoët Wibault 283.T12 F-AMYD displayed on an exhibition at [[Kvilda]]]]

==Variants== ;Penhoët Wibault 280-T :Prototype with three {{convert|300|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Hispano-Wright 9Qa]] radial engines, one built converted to a 281 and then to a 282.<ref name="strdp214-5">{{harvnb|Stroud|1966|pp=214–215}}</ref> ;Wibault 281-T :Prototype with three {{convert|350|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Gnome-Rhône 7Kd]] radial engines. One built as such and one converted from 280-T. Both converted to 282-Ts.<ref name="strdp214-5"/> ;Wibault 282-T :10-passenger production variant with Gnome-Rhône 7Kd engines with cowlings around the wing-mounted engines.<ref name="strdp214-5"/> Six built from new plus two converted prototypes.<ref name="strdp214-5"/><ref name="lefan885p25">{{harvnb|Esperou ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' August 1985|p=25}}</ref> ;Wibault 283-T :Production variant for [[Air France]] with three Gnome-Rhône 7Kd engines, [[NACA cowling]]s, increased fuel capacity, higher weights and a modified tail, ten built.<ref name="strdp214-5"/><ref name="lefan785p413">{{harvnb|Esperou ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' July 1985|pp=41, 43}}</ref> == In popular Culture == A series 280 Wibault features in ''[[The Broken Ear|L'Oreille cassée]]'' a late thirties episode of [[The Adventures of Tintin|Les aventures de tintin]] depicting a treasure hunt in a fictional revolution-torn south american republic. The Wibault is painted in a gloss black and bright yellow livery bearing the well known winged [[seahorse]] [[Air France]] mascot affectionately dubbed "the [[shrimp]]" by Air France staff. Ramon Bada and Alonzo Perez, the archetypal south american knife-wielding vilains, can be seen boarding the airliner at Le Bourget,using the period real life transatlantic combined express service (airplane from Le Bourget to Le Havre or Bordeaux and then an ocean liner to America.<ref>{{cite web | title=L'oreille cassée | url=http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/tintin/oreille/oreille.htm }}</ref>

==Operators== ;{{FRA}} * [[Air France]] * [[Air Union]] * [[French Air Force]] ;{{POR}} * [[Aero Portuguesa]]

==Specifications (283-T-12) == [[File:Wibault_282_T12_3-view_L'Aerophile_September_1933.jpg|thumb|Wibault 282 T12 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile September 1933]] {{Aircraft specs |ref= ''European Transport Aircraft since 1910'',<ref name="stroud p214-6">{{Harvnb|Stroud|1966|pp=214–216}}</ref> ''The Wibault 280 T.10 commercial airplane (French)''<ref name = "naca 47">NACA 1931, pp. 4-7.</ref> |prime units?= met  |genhide=

|crew= 2 |capacity= Ten passengers |length m= 17.0 |length ft= |length in= |span m= 22.61 |span ft= |span in= |height m= 5.75 |height note=<ref name="lefan885p267">{{harvnb|Esperou ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' August 1985|pp=26–27}}</ref> |height in= |wing area sqm= 64.4 |wing area sqft= |empty weight kg= 4,266 |empty weight lb= |gross weight kg= 6,350 |gross weight lb= |fuel capacity=  |eng1 number= 3 |eng1 name= [[Gnome-Rhône 7Kd|Gnome-Rhône Titan Major 7Kd]] |eng1 type= seven-cylinder air-cooled [[radial engine]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp= 350 |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in=

|perfhide=

|avionics= }}

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

==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{More footnotes|date=June 2009}} * {{cite magazine |last=Esperou |first=Robert |title=Les trimoteurs Wibault: Seconde partie |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=July 1985 |issue=188 |pages=41–45 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |ref={{harvid|Esperou ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' July 1985}} }} * {{cite magazine|last1=Esperou |first1=Robert |title=Les trimoteurs Wibault (troisième partie) |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=August 1985 |issue=189 |pages=24–27 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=The Wibault Trimotors, Part 3 |ref={{harvid|Esperou ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' August 1985}}}} * {{cite book |last1=Lacaze |first1=Henri |title=Les avions Louis Breguet Paris |volume=2: le règne du monoplan |date=2016 |location=Le Vigen, France |isbn=978-2-914017-89-3 |language=fr |trans-title=The Aircraft of Louis Breguet, Paris}} * {{cite book|last=Stroud|first=John |title=European Transport Aircraft since 1910 |year=1966 |publisher=Putnam |location=London}} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London, UK }} * {{cite book |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985) |publisher= Orbis Publishing |pages=3096–7}} * [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930090261 "The Wibault 280 T.10 commercial airplane (French): an all-metal, cantilever, low-wing monoplane"] ''[[National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics]]'', 1 March 1931. NACA-AC-140, 93R19551.

==External links== {{commons category|Wibault 283-T}} * [https://books.google.com/books?id=x98DAAAAMBAJ&dq=Popular+Science+1933+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&pg=PA866 "Wings Over Four Continents" ''Popular Mechanics'', December 1935] photo bottom of pg.866, first two photos pg. 867 {{Wibault aircraft}}

[[Category:Trimotors]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:1930s French airliners]] [[Category:Wibault aircraft|Wib 280]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1930]]