Arsenal VB 10

The Arsenal VB 10 was an aircraft designed and developed in France as a fighter interceptor during and in the immediate aftermath of World War II.

It featured a conventional configuration, with a low wing monoplane and retractable tailwheel undercarriage.

The design was an evolution of the Arsenal VG 10, which was initiated prior to the war.

The VB 10 incorporated a second engine located behind the cockpit, which drove a second propeller that was coaxial and contra-rotating to the propeller driven by the engine located in the nose.

This design represented the culmination of the development process.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

12.98 m (42 ft 7 in)

Wingspan

15.49 m (50 ft 10 in)

Height

5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)

Wing area

35.5 m2 (382 sq ft)

Empty weight

6,230 kg (13,735 lb)

Gross weight

9,523 kg (20,995 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Zars-15, V-12 liquid cooled piston engine,

860 kW (1,150 hp)

Powerplant

1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Zars-16, V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine,

860 kW (1,150 hp)

Propellers

6 bladed coaxial contra rotating constant speed propeller (3 blades each)

Performance

Maximum speed

700 km/h (430 mph, 380 kn) at 7,500 m (24,600 ft)

Range

1,700 km (1,100 mi, 920 nmi)

Ferry range

2,600 km (1,600 mi, 1,400 nmi)

Service ceiling

11,000 m (36,000 ft)

Rate of climb

10.2 m/s (2,010 ft/min)

Armament

Guns

4x Hispano Suiza HS.404 cannon

(Second prototype + 6 x 0.5in machine guns)

Rockets

4 x rockets under the outer wings

Bombs

2 x 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs on wing pylons.