Amiot 143
Avions Amiot · France · first flew 1931 · bomber
The Amiot 143 was a large French heavy bomber of the mid-1930s that by 1939 was already an anachronism, yet continued to fly hazardous night bombing raids over Germany in the opening months of the Second World War. Its boxy, angular appearance made it one of the most distinctive French aircraft of the era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large slab-sided biplane-era monoplane with a squared-off fuselage reminiscent of a flying greenhouse |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large slab-sided biplane-era monoplane with a squared-off fuselage reminiscent of a flying greenhouse
- Fixed spatted undercarriage and prominent engine nacelles with gunner positions
- Gnome-Rhône radial engines in large nacelles sitting well below the parasol-set wing
Unmistakable for its massive slab-sided fuselage with extensive glazing, fixed spatted undercarriage, and a broad straight wing set high above the fuselage on struts with large radial-engine nacelles.
Specifications
- The Amiot 143 has a length of 18.26 m (60 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24.53 m (80 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to a 1928 specification and first flown in 1931, the Amiot 143 entered Armée de l'Air service in 1935. Though wholly obsolete by the outbreak of war, its crews flew the first Allied bombing missions against Germany in September 1939 and continued night raids into the Battle of France, suffering heavy losses.
Variants
The Amiot 143M was the standard production version; earlier Amiot 140-series prototypes led to this design. Around 138 aircraft were built.
Where you'll see it
Served exclusively with the Armée de l'Air's heavy bomber groups from 1935 until the armistice in June 1940; no post-armistice operational use.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.