Couzinet 70

Design and developments

The Couzinet 70 Arc-en-Ciel III (en Rainbow) was developed from the 1920s Couzinet 10 Arc-en-Ciel and Couzinet 30. The Couzinet 70 was developed originally as a mail plane for use of Aéropostale's South Atlantic service. The aircraft was a low-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. The aircraft was powered by three Hispano-Suiza 12Nb inline piston engines. The two wing mounted engines could be accessed in flight through tunnels in the wing. After route-proving in 1933 the aircraft was modified and re-designated the Couzinet 71 and entered service with Aéropostale in May 1934.

Variants

10 Arc en Ciel

The original prototype four place bomber, later converted to the Couzinet 27

27 Arc en Ciel II

Converted from the Couzinet 10 but crashing on 8 August 1928

70 Arc en Ciel III

Three-engined Hispano-Suiza 12Nb powered prototype, one built and converted to a Couzinet 71

71

Prototype modified for service as a mailplane, with lengthened nose and strut-braced tailplane.

Operators

 France

Aéropostale

 Spain

Spanish Republican Air Force - Couzinet 101

Specifications (70/71)

General characteristics

Crew: Four

Length: 16.15 m (52 ft 11¾ in)

Wingspan: 30 m (98 ft 5 in)

Height: 4 m (13 ft 1½ in)

Wing area: 90 m² (968.78 ft²)

Empty weight: 7310 kg (16,116 lb)

Gross weight: 16,790 kg (37,015 lb)

Powerplant: 3 × Hispano-Suiza 12Nb V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 485 kW (650 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)

Range: 6800 km (4225 miles)