L.Opdyke French Aeroplanes Before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
A seaplane variant was developed directly from the Type C; perhaps the original aircraft was also mounted on Tellier floats. Another, with a 160 hp Gnome, was entered at Deauville in August, but failed to appear.
(Span: 16 m; length: 12 m; wing area: 54.2 sqm)
The Greek government bought one, named it Nautilos, and fitted it with a bomb-release mechanism. The British Navy ordered one, to be numbered 25, but the order was canceled.
Astra Hydro: In 1912 the CM was fitted with 3 Tellier floats; at least 2 were built powered by 100 hp VI2 Renaults. The first was flown by Labouret to win the St Malo race on 14-26 August 1912. 2 seem to have been ordered by the British Navy, to be numbered 106 and 107, but they never materialized.
(Span: 12.3 m; length: 11 m; wing area: 50 sqm; empty weight: 800 kg; 2 main floats 4.5 x 1.15 m, and one small tail float)
The second, with unequal-span wings and powered by a 110 hp flat radial liquid-cooled Salmson Systeme Canton-Unne engine, flew and crashed at Monaco. At St Malo the rules favored competing aircraft with the most seats, so Labouret's machine was introduced with 5 seats.
In 1912 a C or CM was tested with exhaust pipes on a 75 hp Renault, and at the 1912 Salon an identical aircraft was shown all made of steel tubing, the fuselage uncovered. The CGT flew this one between Nice and Monaco in regular charter service for several weeks.
Jane's All The World Aircraft 1913
ASTRA. "Astra" Soc. de Constructions Aeronautiques, (Anciens Etabs. Surcouf) Soc. An'yme 13 Rue Couchat, Billancourt (Seine). Works: 121-123 Rue de Bellevue, Billancourt. Flying grounds: Issy-les-Molineux Villacoublay (S-&-0). This old established balloon and dirigible firm first took up aviation as French agents for the Wrights in 1909. For a time they built Wrights with certain modifications, but by 1912, little save the Wright system of warping remained. Capacity: about 100 machines a year.
Biplane, Military Biplane, Mil. biplane, Hydro-bi-
type C. biplane Type C. type C.M. plane,type
1912-13. type C.M. 1913. 1913. C.M.
Wood. 1912-13. Wood & Wood & steel. 1913.
Wood steel. Wood & steel
Length..feet(m.) 34 (10.40) 36 (10.97) 34 (10.40) 36 (10.97) 32? (10)
Span....feet(m.) 41 (12.50) 40? (12.32) 41 (12.50) 40? (12.32) 39? (12)
Area.sq.feet(m?) 519 (48.2) 519 (48.2) 519 (48.2) 519 (48.2) 519 (48.2)
Weight, machine,
......lbs.(kgs.) 1764 (800) 2365 (1073) ... 1411 (640) 1763 (800)
Weight, useful, (unladen)
......lbs.(kgs.) 661 (300) 882 (400) ... ... ...
Motor......h.p. 50 Renault 75 Renault 50 Renault 75 Renault 100 Renault
or 75 Chenu
Speed, max.,
....m.p.h.(km.) 56 (90) 56 (90) 56 (90) 56 (90) 56 (90)
Speed, min.,
......p.h.(km.) ... ... ... ... ...
Endurance..hrs. ... ... ... ... ...
Number built
during 1912 ... ... ... ... ...
Remarks.--The 1912-13 and 1913 types differ only in the adoption of metal in the 1913 models, which are consequently considerably lighter.
General features.--Warping wings. Fixed tail planes with two elevators in rear. Single rudder. Single tractor geared down 1 to 2. Type C carries 85 litres petrol; type C.M., 137 litres.
Журнал Flight
Flight, May 3, 1913.
REFLECTIONS ON THE MONACO MEETING.
Astra.
The Cie. Generate Transaerienne are responsible for the construction of the Astra hydro-biplanes, which are of the tractor type. Those entered for the Monaco competition had Canton-Unne engines, but other machines of this make were also present with 12-cyl. Renault engines. It appears that the design of these machines has recently been modified and a new wing section introduced. The earlier successful types had a wing section corresponding to that of the Wright biplane. The present machines have flat bottomed floats rigidly attached to the lower planes by tubular steel struts of circular section.