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

Tellier Four-Engine Flying Boat

  In July 1918, Tellier began the design of a four-engine flying boat. The aircraft was intended to be used to attempt an Atlantic crossing postwar. The aircraft, christened Vonna, was to have been far larger than any aircraft previously built by the Tellier firm. The basic design was a four-engine triplane with a loaded weight of 1,840 kg. A crew of three was planned and power was to be supplied by four 325-hp Panhard and Levassor V-12 engines. The engines were to be mounted in tandem on either side of the fuselage and mounted on the middle wing.
  It was planned to build two flying boats and to order ten Panhard and Levassor V-12 engines (two for use as spares). However, as construction was nearing completion in early 1919, Tellier left his position with Nieuport. Work on the project slowed with Tellier's departure, and was finally abandoned by Nieuport in early 1920. For further details see the section under Nieuport.


Tellier Vonna Flying Boat with Four Panhard and Levassor V-12 Engines (Provisional Data)
   Span 40 m; length 21.50 m; height 9.50 m; wing area 285.30 sq. m
   Empty weight 9,200 kg; loaded weight 15,000 kg
   Maximum speed: 125 km/h; range 600 km


Nieuport-Tellier Designs

  The Nieuport firm acquired a controlling interest in the Tellier firm in late 1918. Tellier's designs were redesignated as follows:
<...>
   Tellier Vonna - Nieuport 4R 450 (four 450-hp Renault engines - see Tellier).



Nieuport 4R 450 Long-Range Flying Boat

  This aircraft was intended to be used in a postwar attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The aircraft seems to have drawn heavily on the Tellier Vonna flying boat designs as it featured the same hull design. The influence of Tellier is not surprising as that firm was gradually absorbed by the Nieuport works from 1918 to 1919. The aircraft was to have had four 450-hp Renault engines mounted in tandem pairs on side-by-side nacelles on the center wing. In 1918 two aircraft were under construction, but it is not known if any were completed. Only a drawing of the design is known to exist. This shows that it was planned to use the aircraft as an airliner. Again, this may have been based on the Tellier design for the four-engine Vonna flying boat, although the Tellier design was to have used four 325-hp Panhard and Levassor V-12 engines (see Tellier).


Nieuport 4R 450 with four 450-hp Renault Engines
   Span 40 m; length 21.5 m; height 9.4 m; wing area 342.3 sq. m; (Vonna specifications were identical except for a wing area of 285.3 sq. m)
   Empty weight 9,200 kg; loaded weight 15,000 kg
   Maximum speed: 125 km/h (estimated)
   Two under construction; it is not known if any were completed