| CAMS 31 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Single-seat fighter flying-boat |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | CAMS |
| First flight | 1922 |
| Number built | 2 |
The CAMS 31 was a 1920s French single-seat fighter biplane flying-boat designed and built by Chantiers Aéro-Maritimes de la Seine (CAMS).[1]
Design and development
The CAMS 31 was a wooden-built two-bay equal span biplane with stabilising floats under each wing and an open cockpit forward of the lower-wing for the pilot.[1] Powered by a Hispano-Suiza 8Fb inline piston engine driving a pusher propeller, the engine was strut mounted between the wings.[1] The CAMS 31 was armed with two fixed hull-mounted Vickers machine-guns in the bow.[1]
The CAMS 31 prototype, later designated the CAMS 31 Type 22, first flew in 1922. A second prototype, the CAMS 31 Type 23, flew in 1923 with a reduced-span wing and wider chord but still had the same wing area as the Type 22.[1] Testing proved the flying-boats handled well but were just not suitable as fighters and no more were built.[1]
A mail carrying postal variant was designated CAMS 31P
Variants
- CAMS 31 Type 22
- Original wing
- CAMS 31 Type 23
- Reduced span extended chord wing of same area
- CAMS 31M
- Proposed production fighter, not proceeded with.
- CAMS 31P
- Postal variant
Specifications (CAMS 31 Type 22)
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 8.80 m (28 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 11.20 m (36 ft 9 in)
- Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 33.00 m2 (355.2 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,045 kg (2,304 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,505 kg (3,318 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Fb inline piston engine, 220 kW (300 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn) at sea level
- Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
Armament
- Guns: 2 × fixed bow-mounted Vickers machine guns
See also
Related lists
References
Notes
Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.