Flight, December 1924

The Paris Aero Show 1924

CONSTRUCTIONS AERONAUTIQUES E. DEWOITINE

   A COMPARATIVE newcomer to the French aircraft industry M. E. Dewoitine, whose experimental works and offices are now at Chatillon-sous-Bagneux (Seine), while the original works at Toulouse are devoted to quantity production, is rapidly gaining a leading position among French aircraft designers. Probably the first introduction of M. Dewoitine to readers of FLIGHT dates back to the 1920 Paris aero show, when a scale model of the Dewoitine twin-engined commercial monoplane was shown. Incidentally the same machine is, we understand, being produced as a night bomber. At this year's Paris Show M. Dewoitine is showing four machines, two of which are of the D.1 C.1 type, while the third is the D.7 light monoplane, and the fourth a large commercial monoplane.
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   The last machine on the Dewoitine stand is the little light monoplane, the type D.7, which is similar to that used by Barbot in his cross-Channel flight, with the exception that a new Vaslin engine has been fitted. This is a six-cylinder in line, water-cooled, of 2 litres capacity. The engine is stated to weigh 62 kgs. (136 1/2 lbs.) without propeller and radiator, but including oil, and to develop 35 h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m. and 55 h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m. The machine is, of course, a single-seater, and we learn that in small quantities the price is 35,000 fr. (approximately ?430 at present rate of exchange). If ordered in larger quantities the price is expected to be reduced to about 20,000 fr. (?250). It is not proposed at present to give a very detailed description of this machine, as we hope to return to it in a subsequent issue. The performance claimed for it is extraordinarily good, and is somewhat difficult to believe. A top speed of 150 km./hr. (94 m.p.h.) is claimed, and a landing speed of 30 km./hr. (18| m.p.h.). Neither figure seems probable, the latter because the wing loading is about 4 lbs./sq. ft. and the former because the wing section employed is of the Joukowsky or "tadpole" type. The Vaslin engine is, however, very interesting, and we hope to give a detailed description of it at an early date.