Wibault 12 Sirocco: Difference between revisions
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==Variants== |
==Variants== |
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C=Chasseur (fighter); A=Army; 2=two seater. One of each only. |
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;Wib 12 Sirocco C.2: First prototype, fuselage and rear seat gun only. |
;Wib 12 Sirocco C.2: First prototype, fuselage and rear seat gun only.<ref name=G&S/> |
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;Wib 121 Sirocco C.2: Second prototype, wing guns added. |
;Wib 121 Sirocco C.2: Second prototype, wing guns added. |
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;Wib 122 Sirocco C.2: Third prototype, 1928 French built for [[Vickers]] who replaced the Hispano engine with a {{convert|550|hp|kW|abbr=on|0|disp=flip}} W-12 [[Napier Lion|Napier Lion XI]]. Vickers referred to it as the [[Vickers Type 127]]; its [[RAF]] serial was ''J9029''. The Vickers guns were removed from fuselage top to sides.<ref name=G&S/><ref name=A&M/> |
;Wib 122 Sirocco C.2: Third prototype, 1928 French built for [[Vickers]] who replaced the Hispano engine with a {{convert|550|hp|kW|abbr=on|0|disp=flip}} W-12 [[Napier Lion|Napier Lion XI]]. Vickers referred to it as the [[Vickers Type 127]]; its [[RAF]] serial was ''J9029''. The Vickers guns were removed from fuselage top to sides.<ref name=G&S/><ref name=A&M/> |
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;Wib 124 A.2: Army co-operation version. No wing guns and only one synchronised Vickers gun in upper fuselage but a ventral Lewis gun added.<ref name=AF_124/> |
;Wib 124 A.2: Army co-operation version. No wing guns and only one synchronised Vickers gun in upper fuselage but a ventral Lewis gun added.<ref name=AF_124/> |
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;Wib 125 A.2: Army co-operation version. [[Renault 12 J]]c {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} water-cooled [[V-12]] engine, same armament as Wib 124.<ref name=AF_125/> |
;Wib 125 A.2: Army co-operation version. [[Renault 12 J]]c {{convert|500|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} water-cooled [[V-12]] engine, same armament as Wib 124.<ref name=AF_125/> |
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==Specifications (Wib 121 C.2)== |
==Specifications (Wib 121 C.2)== |
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{{Aircraft specs |
{{Aircraft specs |
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Revision as of 22:00, 1 May 2013
| Wib 12 Sirocco | |
|---|---|
| Role | Two seat fighter aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Avions Michel Wibault |
| First flight | May 1926 |
| Number built | 3 |
| Developed from | Wibault 8 Simoun |
The Wibault 12 Sirocco or Wib 12 Sirocco was a two seat, parasol wing fighter aircraft designed and built in France in the 1920s. Three prototypes were completed.
Design
The single engine, two seat, parasol wing fighter Wib 12 Sirocco was a structurally much revised development of the similarly configured Wib 8 Simoun, following it through the Avions Marcel Wibault with less than a month between their maiden flights. They were externally very similar but the more refined structure of the Wib 12 made it stronger but 12% lighter than its predecessor. One major change was the replacement of the Wib 8's box spar with I-section spars.[1]
The general design followed that of Wibuult's family of single and two seat fighters, the Wib 3, Wib 7, Wib 8 and Wib 8 but in external detail was closest to the Wib 8. Structurally it was entirely metal, mostly Duralumin, though fabric covered. The parasol wing was straight edged and of constant chord, braced to the lower fuselage with a pair of parallel struts on each side which met the wing at about mid-span. The Wib 12 had a new pair of jury struts from the main wing struts to the wing underside for strengthening. There were cabane struts over the fuselage and a trailing edge cut-out in the wing over the pilot's cockpit to enhance his visibility. A pair of synchronised 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns fixed to the fuselage fired forwards through the propeller arc; in addition the rear cockpit was fitted with a pair of Lewis guns of the same calibre on a Scarff ring. The gunner also had auxiliary flight controls. A braced tailplane was mounted towards the top of the fuselage, together with an angular fin and rudder.[1]
The Wib 12's engine, the same 500 hp (373 kW) water-cooled V-12 Hispano-Suiza 12Hb type as used by the Wib 8, was totally enclosed and drove a two blade propeller. It was cooled by a retractable, half-cylindrical radiator on the fuselage underside at the back 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 the fuselage underside, supported by a pair of V-struts; there was a small tailskid.[1]
The Wib 12 and the Wib 121 were both flown for the first time in May 1926. The later was about 8% faster in a climb to 4,000 m (13,125 ft) than the heavier Wib 8. When the Service Technique de l'Aéronautique (S.T.Aé, Technical Department of Aeronautics) cancelled the two seat fight specification in 1926, further development by Wibault also ended; though the Wib 121 went on a sales demonstration in Turkey in 1928, no orders were gained.[1]
Variants
C=Chasseur (fighter); A=Army; 2=two seater. One of each only.
- Wib 12 Sirocco C.2
- First prototype, fuselage and rear seat gun only.[1]
- Wib 121 Sirocco C.2
- Second prototype, wing guns added.
- Wib 122 Sirocco C.2
- Third prototype, 1928 French built for Vickers who replaced the Hispano engine with a 410 kW (550 hp) W-12 Napier Lion XI. Vickers referred to it as the Vickers Type 127; its RAF serial was J9029. The Vickers guns were removed from fuselage top to sides.[1][2]
- Wib 124 A.2
- Army co-operation version. No wing guns and only one synchronised Vickers gun in upper fuselage but a ventral Lewis gun added.[3]
- Wib 125 A.2
- Army co-operation version. Renault 12 Jc 500 hp (373 kW) water-cooled V-12 engine, same armament as Wib 124.[4]
Specifications (Wib 121 C.2)
Data from Green & Swanborough p.596-7[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 9.44 m (31 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 12.66 m (41 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 29.63 m2 (318.9 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,212 kg (2,672 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,050 kg (4,519 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hb water-cooled upright V-12, 370 kW (500 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 242 km/h (150 mph, 131 kn) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
- Service ceiling: 6,200 m (20,300 ft)
- Time to altitude: 14.15 min 33 s to 4,000 m (13,125 ft)
Armament
- Wing guns: 2×7.7 mm (0.303 in) unsynchronised Darne machine guns firing outside the propeller arc.
- Fuselage guns 2×7.7 mm (0.303 in) synchronised Vickers machine guns firing through the propeller arc.
- Rear cockpit: 2×7.7 mm (0.303 in) Lewis machine guns on a Scarff ring.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 596-7. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
- ^ Andrews, CF; Morgan, E.B. (1988). Vickers Aircraft since 1908 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. p. 515. ISBN 0 85177 815 1.
- ^ "Wibault 124". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Wibault 125". Retrieved 1 May 2013.