Category:Blériot 5190

The Blériot 5190 has both a beautiful and tragic history. It was a reliable four-crew seaplane, making more South Atlantic crossings (38) than any of its rivals (Farman F.220 Le Centaure (Centaurus) - corroded -, two Latécoère 301s - lost over the ocean - and its predecessor the Couzinet Arc en Ciel (Rainbow)).
Designed for postal transport. First flight on 3 August 1933 by Lucien Bossoutrot. Only one built as three others were stopped once the French Government cancelled the order without explanation or compensation. The company was heavily involved in loans to produce these four-engine aircrafts and went into bankrupcy during Summer 1936. Louis Blériot, his founder, died of a heart attack some weeks later at 64.
The design bureau led by Filippo Zappata conceived a large parasol-wing monoplane flying boat got sponsons and was powered by three engines each acting a tractor propeller with a fourth engine driving a pusher propeller on the trailing edge. The cockpit was in the chimney with crew accodmodation in the front fuselage, just behind the mail cargo section. Center, eigth tanks provided a range of 5 000 km (3,100 mi, 2,700 nmi) more than the 3 200 km required by the specification. The single tail was distinctive by its two horizontal surfaces.
In 1934, after 2 months of experimental and successful Atlantic crossings, the aircraft was stopped in favor of the Latécoère flying boats. Following their lost at sea in 1936, the Blériot 5190 now christened Santos-Dumont returned to service with Air France crews for a year.

This page lists all IMPDB pages that feature the Blériot 5190.

See also

• Blériot 5190 at Wikipedia.
• Blériot 5190 at a French website including a link (5190) about its assembly.