- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new French seaplane prototype from CAMS: the CAMS 80.
In the early 1930s, CAMS engineers began working on a rather different aircraft from the company’s previous designs. While most earlier CAMS seaplanes had relied on wooden construction and traditional biplane layouts, the new CAMS 80 adopted a much more modern approach. It featured an all-metal hull, retractable gears combined with gull-shaped wings, giving the aircraft a distinctive appearance while also improving its structural strength.
The prototype made its maiden flight in 1931 and quickly demonstrated promising characteristics. One of its most notable improvements was the enclosed cockpit, which offered the crew considerably better protection from the elements than the open cockpits found on many earlier CAMS aircraft. The forward observer’s position was also fully glazed, providing excellent visibility while making long reconnaissance flights considerably more comfortable.
Following its initial trials, the CAMS 80 was sent to the Saint-Raphaël naval aviation test center for further evaluation. The aircraft performed sufficiently well for the French Navy to acquire it in 1933, allowing it to enter operational service and be evaluated under real conditions.
Despite these promising results, the CAMS 80 failed to attract the interest required for mass production. No additional aircraft were ordered, leaving the prototype as the only example ever built.
Ironically, the very feature that was supposed to make the CAMS 80 more durable ultimately contributed to the end of its career. Although its metal hull was intended to provide greater strength and longevity, corrosion became a serious problem. By 1938, the underside of the hull had deteriorated so severely that continuing to operate the aircraft was considered dangerous for its crew.
The CAMS 80 was therefore withdrawn from service and eventually scrapped, bringing an end to its short career.
Characteristics
Length : 13.79 m
Width : 24.90 m
Height : 5.10 m
Mass :
- Empty : 2,950 kg
- Full : 4,300 kg
The aircraft is powered by a 650 hp Hispano-Suiza engine mounted in a tractor configuration above the wing. This allows the aircraft to reach a top speed of 215 km/h and a service ceiling of 6,500 m, with a range of 1,300 km.
The crew consists of a pilot, a co-pilot, a forward observer/gunner, and a rear gunner.
Weapons
While its armament is not the most extensive, it still allows the aircraft to defend against aerial threats while engaging naval or ground targets. It features:
Defensive armament:
- 2 x 7.7mm Lewis machine guns (T.O.7 turret at the front)
- 2 x 7.7mm Lewis machine guns (T.O.9 turret at the front)
Offensive armament:
- 2 x bomb racks (one under each wing)
In-game, this aircraft would be an interesting addition to the French tree, introducing a new low-BR seaplane—a type of aircraft currently missing from the lineup.
