Amiot 350 family
Amiot / SECM · France · first flew 1937 · bomber
The Amiot 350 family was a series of sleek French twin-engine medium bombers that equipped the Armée de l'Air in 1939–40, representing the best French bomber technology of the period.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- twin-engine mid-wing with twin tail fins
- glazed nose
- streamlined high-speed bomber profile
The twin oval tail fins and deeply tapered mid-wing are distinctive, as is the unusually slim, streamlined fuselage with a fully glazed nose. At a distance the silhouette resembles the Heinkel He 111 but the Amiot's twin fins and more tapered wing set it apart.
Specifications
- The Amiot 350 family has a length of 14.5 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.83 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 480 km/h (298 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began with the Amiot 340 prototype (first flown 1937), leading to the refined 351 and 354 production variants. By May 1940 several groupes were operational, and the Amiot 354 proved fast enough to regularly outrun German fighters when unencumbered. The family served until the armistice and some later flew under Vichy colours.
Variants
Key production types were the Amiot 351 (Gnome-Rhône 14N engines) and Amiot 354 (Gnome-Rhône 14N/48–49); experimental high-altitude 356 and 370 variants were also studied.
Where you'll see it
Served with several groupes de bombardement of the Armée de l'Air during the Battle of France; limited Vichy service followed the armistice.
Related aircraft
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