J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Paul Schmitt S.B.R.

  Aircraft c/n 6 built by Paul Schmitt in 1913/14 featured a 160-hp Gnome engine and a variable incidence wing. In 1914 this machine established a series of records for altitude, speed, range, and climb rate for an aircraft carrying three or more passengers. The variable incidence wing could be pivoted up or down by 12 degrees. This permitted the aircraft to takeoff, climb, and land at a steeper angle than could be achieved by conventional designs. The variable incidence wing reduced the takeoff run and enabled the airplane to land on shorter fields. The design so impressed the judges at the international concours of 1914 that they awarded Schmitt a prize of 30,000 francs.
  At the outbreak of war Schmitt placed his award-winning aircraft at the disposal of the army. Used by the same pilot (named Garaix) who had flown it during the 1914 concours, it was lost on 15 August 1914 during a bombing raid on Metz.
  A variant of the pre-war design was built by Schmitt in 1915. This machine was initially termed the S.B.R. (Schmitt Bomber Renault) and was entered in the concours puissant of 1915. The S.B.R. retained the variable incidence wing but had a more powerful 200-hp Renault engine. The variable incidence wings were controlled through a series of wheels and chains which pulled the wing forward, causing it to rotate along the axis of a steel tube within the wing. The normal setting was 5 degrees for flights when the maximum payload of 450 kg was carried. A setting of 6 degrees was used for flight above 2,000 meters. Finally, a setting of 7 degrees was used for landing. An incidence indicator was provided for the pilot so he could set the wings at the recommended angles. The aileron cables were arranged to pass through the wing's axis of rotation; this enabled the wing incidence to be changed without causing the aircraft to change direction. The airplane flew the 600-km circuit at an altitude of 2,000 meters while carrying 350 kg of fuel and oil as well as a payload of 450 kg. The S.B.R. and the Breguet SN 3 were the only two aircraft to meet the requirements of the competition.
  However, the French authorities were dissatisfied with Schmitt's design. The main complaints were that the maximum speed of 120 km/h was too slow, the defensive armament too weak, and the variable incidence wing was felt to be of little value in a bomber aircraft. The Breguet SN 3 was judged the winner of the 1915 concours puissant.
  However, there were those who fell the S.B.R. provided the basis for a useful bomber, especially as the Breguet design also had numerous deficiencies. Eventually, the Aviation Militaire decided to purchase modified versions of both the SN 3 and S.B.R. They were to serve as interim types until a more suitable bomber, to be selected at the 1916 concours puissant, became available.



Paul Schmitt 6

  The S.B.R. was modified by Schmitt to meet the requirements of the Aviation Militaire. The most significant change was the deletion of the variable incidence wing - no operational Schmitt bomber had this feature. The lower wing was suspended beneath the fuselage; for this reason, Schmitt changed the designation from S.B.R. to B.R.A.B., which stood for Bomber Renault Aile Basse (low wing). A more powerful 250-hp Renault engine was fitted. The prototype is believed to have been the 22nd aircraft built by Schmitt (c/n 22). It was given the STAe designation Paul Schmitt Type 6. Approximately ten were built and these were probably given military serials 22 through 31. The Type 6 was soon replaced by the Type 7.


Paul Schmitt 6 Two-Seat Bomber with 250-hp Renault
   Span 17,50 m; length 9.50 m; wing area 48.40 m Empty weight 1, 300 kg; loaded weight 1, 975 kg
   Maximum speed: 125 km/h at 2,000 m; climb to 2,000 m in 19 minutes; range 600 km
   Approximately 10 built