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

Bleriot 39 Armored Monoplane

  In 1913 General Bernard formulated a requirement for two types of armored aircraft: a two-seater with a maximum speed of 100 km/h to be used for longer-range reconnaissance and a single-seater for high-speed (120 km/h) reconnaissance. Bleriot, along with Breguet, Dorand, Ponnier, Deperdussin, Clement-Bayard, Morane-Saulnier, and Voisin, built a machine to meet these specifications. While the Bleriot 36 had been intended to fill the long-range reconnaissance role, the Bleriot 39 was a single-seater designed to meet the latter specification. It had a shorter fuselage than the standard Type 11 but had a larger wing with increased span, presumably to allow it to carry the heavy armor. The engine was an 80-hp Gnome. However, the armored aircraft program was a complete failure because the aircraft engines of the time were not powerful enough to overcome the weight of the armor. The Bleriot 39 was not used operationally by the Aviation Militaire.


Bleriot 39 Single-Seat Armored Reconnaissance Aircraft with 80-hp Gnome
   Wing span 10.10 m, length 6.15 m, wing area 19.00 sq. m
   Empty weight 440 kg, loaded weight 615 kg
   Maximum speed 120 km/h, climb rate 100 meter /minute
   One built