Military Archives - Page 12 of 39 - Destination's Journey

Bloch MB.130 Reconnaissance Aircraft

Bloch MB.130 Reconnaissance Aircraft

The Bloch MB.130 was designed in response to a French Air Staff requirement for a fast multi-seat BCR (bomber, combat, reconnaissance) aircraft. First flying on 8 June 1934 at Villacoublay It was designated the MB.130 A. It was powered by two 760hp Gnome-Rhône 14 Kdrs engines and fitted with a fixed, trousered undercarriage.

After a series of tests, it was modified to incorporate a retractable undercarriage, 870hp Gnome-Rhône 14 Kirs/Kjrs engines and a ventral turret extended to the rear. The modified aircraft, redesignated MB 130 B, flew on 3 April 1935.

The Bloch MB.310 did not enter production, as the French Air Force decided to focus on specialised aircraft for different roles. Bloch used the basic airframe from the MB.130 to develop the more advanced MB.311.

Seversky XP-41

Developed for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), the Seversky XP-41 was a single-seat fighter aircraft. The last production Seversky P-35 was modified by adding a new streamlined canopy, a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-19 engine with a two-speed supercharger, and revised landing gear. First flying in March 1939 it was developed in parallel with the P-43 Lancer, and work was stopped when the USAAC showed a preference for the latter.

Hughes XF-11 Reconnaissance Aircraft

Hughes XF-11

The Hughes XF-11 was a prototype reconnaissance aircraft designed for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Although 100 aircraft were ordered in 1943, the program was delayed beyond the end of the Second World War, rendering it surplus to the USAAF needs and it was cancelled.

The first of two prototypes (serial number 44-70155) crashed on its first flight on 7 July 1946, piloted by Howard Hughes who was critically injured. The second prototype (44-70156) first flew on 5 April 1947 again piloted by Hughes. This time without incident.

The United States Air Force (USAF) was created as a separate service in September 1947, and the XF-11 was redesignated as the XR-11 in July 1948. The XR-11 continued to fly until mid 1949, after which is was used as an instructional airframe for several months before being scrapped in November.