Arsenal VB 10
Arsenal de l'Aéronautique · France · first flew 1945 · fighter
The Arsenal VB 10 was an ambitious French single-seat fighter featuring two Hispano-Suiza piston engines mounted in tandem within the fuselage driving contra-rotating propellers — an unconventional arrangement aimed at concentrating power without wing-mounted engines.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Unique French fighter with both engines buried in fuselage — no wing engines |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Hispano-Suiza engines in tandem driving contra-rotating propellers
- Unique French fighter with both engines buried in fuselage — no wing engines
- Large low-wing piston fighter developed during and after WWII
The single large propeller spinner concealing contra-rotating props and the absence of any engine nacelles on the clean low wing are the key recognition points.
Specifications
- The Arsenal VB 10 has a length of 12.98 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.49 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 700 km/h (435 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design began during the German occupation of France using clandestine work, and the aircraft first flew in 1945. Despite impressive performance on paper, development was protracted and troubled, and the advent of jet aircraft made it obsolete before production could begin.
Variants
Several pre-production aircraft were completed but no production series followed; the programme ended with French aviation shifting to jets.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service with the French Air Force.
Related aircraft
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