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Страна: Франция

Год: 1916

Единственный экземпляр

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

Ponnier P.I

  Ponnier designed a twin-engine fighter carrying a crew of two and fitted with dual controls. The intention was that one crewman would fly the plane while the other used his machine gun. This sounded fine in theory, but the crew would be hard pressed if they were to be attacked simultaneously from front and rear. The two-bay wing had diagonally placed struts near the end of the lower wing. The engine nacelles featured the huge spinners favored by the Ponnier firm. However, the location of the engines would have severely restricted the fields of fire of both crew members. The horizontal stabilizers had small fins on the top and bottom surfaces. The aircraft had been completed by January 1916, but little is known of its subsequent fate. It is interesting the note that the SPAD SA.3, which had a similar concept of gunners with dual controls, flew in February 1916. It is not known if two such similar designs arose from a similar STAe requirement (although no such specification has been found) or if the appearance of both aircraft at nearly the same time was merely coincidental. The Bleriot 65 may also have been based on this requirement.


Ponnier P.I
   Span 12.70 m; length 7.250 m; wing area 30 sq. m
   Empty weight 630 kg; loaded weight 1,000 kg
   Maximum speed: 160 km/h
   Armament: two machine guns

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