Bernard 15

AB 15
Role Single-seat sesquiplane fighter aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer Société Industrielle des Métaux et du Bois (SIMB), sometimes referred to as Ferbois]]
Designer Jean Hubert
First flight 1926
Number built 1
Developed from Bernard SIMB AB 14

The Bernard 15 C1 or Bernard SIMB AB 15 was a 1920s French single-seat sesquiplane fighter aircraft designed and built by the Société Industrielle des Métaux et du Bois (SIMB).[1][2] With the structural failure of the earlier Bernard 14 the Bernard 15 was an improved variant with a greater span upper wing. It was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Hb inline piston engine and had a fixed tailskid landing gear. The performance was not an improvement on the Bernard SIMB AB 14 and only the prototype was built.[1]

Specifications

Bernard 15 perspective drawing from L'Aéronautique January,1927

Data from [1]Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.40 m (37 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 24 m2 (260 sq ft)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,790 kg (3,946 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hb inline piston engine, 370 kW (500 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 270 km/h (170 mph, 150 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,600 ft)

Armament

  • Guns: Two fixed Vickers .303 (7.7mm) synchronised machine-guns

See also

Related development

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Orbis 1985, p. 637
  2. ^ Liron, pp. 181, 224

Bibliography

  • Bruner, Georges (1977). "Fighters a la Francaise, Part One". Air Enthusiast (3): 85–95. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
  • Liron, Jean (1990). Les avions Bernard. Collection Docavia. Vol. 31. Paris: Éditions Larivière. ISBN 2-84890-065-2.
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