Bernard 190
Bernard 191GR Oiseau Canari preserved at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace
Role Airliner
Manufacturer Bernard
Designer Jean Hubert
First flight 1928
Primary user CIDNA
Number built ca. 15

The Bernard 190 or Bernard-Hubert 190 was a French airliner of 1928. It was a high-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration, based on the Bernard 18. Compared with its predecessor, it kept the same basic design but featured redesigned tail surfaces, an enlarged cabin, and offered its flight crew a completely enclosed cockpit. Also like its predecessor, the basic airliner model provided the basis for a long-range aircraft to be used in record attempts, the 191GR (for Grand Raid).

Operational history

The eight 190Ts entered service in 1929 with CIDNA, operating on various European routes.[1] The 190T was not popular with CIDNA, whose president had been trying for several years to purchase more efficient and economical Fokker F.VIIs. The last 190T was burnt on 3 January 1933.[2]

The 190 is best remembered for the exploits of the three 191GRs. The first built was used by Louis Coudouret in an attempt to cross the North Atlantic in August 1928. This was unsuccessful when the aircraft first refused to leave the ground in Paris, and was later turned back by Spanish authorities unwilling to permit the flight. On 7 July 1929, Coudouret crashed the aircraft near Angoulême and was killed.

The second example was used in the first successful French aerial crossing of the North Atlantic. Painted bright yellow and dubbed Oiseau Canari ("Canary Bird") it departed Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on June 13, 1929 and piloted by Jean Assolant, René Lefèvre and Armand Lotti, it completed the crossing to Oyambre Beach, near Comillas, Cantabria, Spain, in 29 hours 52 minutes, even with a stowaway (Arthur Schreiber) aboard. This aircraft is now preserved in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace.

The third 191GR was used by Antoine Paillard to set two world airspeed records, for 100 km (62 mi) with a 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) payload, and for 1,000 km (620 mi) with a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) payload.

Variants

190T
Single-engined airliner, powered by a 358 kW (480 hp) Gnome et Rhône 9Ady (licence-built Bristol Jupiter) radial piston engine.[3]
191T
A single aircraft powered by a 450 kW (600 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb V-12 engine.[4]
191GR
Record-breaking aircraft, powered by 447 kW (599 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb piston engine. Three built as 191G.R. No.1, 191G.R. No.2 and 191G.R. No.3.[5]
192T
Single mailplane example for Aéropostale, powered by a 360 kW (480 hp) Gnome & Rhône 9Akx radial engine.[6]
193T
Single-engined transport aircraft, powered by a 336 kW (451 hp) Lorraine 12Eb piston engine. Only one built.[7]
197GR
Engine demonstrator commissioned by Lorraine-Dietrich. Lost off Rangoon 26 February 1929.

Operators

 France

Specifications (190T)

Bernard 190 3-view drawing from L'Aéronautique June,1928

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928.[8] Aviafrance:Bernard 190T[3]

General characteristics

Performance

References

  1. ^ Stroud 1966, p. 45
  2. ^ Liron 1990, pp. 152–153
  3. ^ a b Parmentier, Bruno (9 January 1999). "Bernard 190T". Aviafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  4. ^ Parmentier, Bruno (22 September 2002). "Bernard 191T". Aviafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  5. ^ Parmentier, Bruno (29 September 2002). "Bernard 191GR". Aviafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  6. ^ Parmentier, Bruno (29 September 2002). "Bernard 192T". Aviafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  7. ^ Parmentier, Bruno (29 September 2002). "Bernard 193T". Aviafrance (in French). Paris. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  8. ^ Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 86c.

Bibliography

Further reading