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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting the final development of the Amiot 140 series: the Amiot 144.
In the early 1930s, the Amiot company was enjoying considerable success. The Amiot 143, which entered service during this period, became one of the company’s most successful aircraft and received substantial orders from the French Air Force. However, despite being capable of performing the various missions assigned to it, the aircraft suffered from one major drawback: its speed. Its large, fixed landing gear created considerable aerodynamic drag, severely limiting its performance and range.
Consequently, when the French Air Force issued new specifications in 1933 for a modern multi-purpose combat aircraft, Amiot decided to develop an improved version of the 143. The main objective was to eliminate its most obvious weakness by replacing the fixed landing gear with a retractable system, significantly reducing drag and improving both speed and range. This new aircraft was designated the Amiot 144.
Based on an Amiot 143 fuselage, the prototype made its maiden flight in 1936 and immediately demonstrated performance far superior to that of its predecessor. However, by then, the French Air Force was already pursuing several more modern designs, and the Amiot 144 failed to attract official interest. Instead, in 1937, the Air Force chose to place additional orders for the Amiot 143, a decision that was increasingly difficult to justify given the rapid evolution of military aviation.
As a result, the Amiot 144 program was abandoned after the construction of a single prototype, bringing the development of the Amiot 140 family to an end.
Characteristics
Length : 18.24 m
Width : 24.53 m
Height : 5.68 m
Mass :
- Empty : 5,800 kg
- Full : 11,500 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Gnome & Rhône 14K engines, each developing 850 hp, enabling it to reach a top speed of 350 km/h and a service ceiling of 8,500 m. Its operational range is between 1,000 and 4,000 km.
The crew consists of five people: a pilot, a bombardier/gunner, and three other gunners.
Weapons
The aircraft’s armament is quite comprehensive, featuring a very strong defensive setup complemented by a substantial bomb load:
Defensive armament:
- 3 x twin 7.7mm Vickers machine gun turrets (dorsal, ventral, and nose)
- 1 x 7.7mm Vickers machine gun (ventral)
Offensive armament:
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Bomb bay:
- 64 x 10kg
- 16 x 50kg
- 4 x 100kg
- 4 x 200kg
- 1 x 500kg
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Under-wing:
- 4 x 100kg
- 4 x 200kg
In-game, this aircraft would be a particularly interesting addition to the French tree, providing a well-defended heavy bomber at a lower Battle Rating and filling a gap in the French lineup, which currently lacks this type of aircraft at these ranks.
Sources
- Amiot 140
- Amiot 144 (1936) (ebook) — www.skyshelf.eu
- Amiot 144 - Bombardier lourd - Un siècle d’aviation française
- La famille des Amiot 140 : le prototype Amiot 140, l’Amiot 142 à moteurs en ligne, l’Amiot 143, le grand sacrifié de 1940 et l’Amiot 144 à train d’atterrissage escamotable, prévu pour remplacer le 143 et… - Avions moches, bizarres, ratés, projets abandonnés et aviation insolite. | Facebook
