Arsenal VG-33
Arsenal de l'Aéronautique · France · first flew 1939 · fighter
The Arsenal VG-33 was a high-performance French single-seat fighter that showed great promise during the Battle of France in 1940 but was produced in insufficient numbers to influence the outcome. It was one of the fastest French fighters of the era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.55 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sleek French low-wing monoplane fighter from the eve of World War II
- Inline liquid-cooled engine with long nose and spinner
- Tapered wings with rounded tips and retractable undercarriage
Distinguished by its slender fuselage, long liquid-cooled engine nose, and gracefully tapered wings; closely resembles contemporaries like the Dewoitine D.520 but has a slightly different wing planform.
Specifications
- The Arsenal VG-33 has a length of 8.55 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.8 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 554 km/h (344 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Arsenal de l'Aéronautique in the late 1930s, the VG-33 first flew in 1939 and achieved impressive speed figures. Production was underway when France fell in June 1940, with only a handful of aircraft having reached operational units.
Variants
Several variants were projected including the VG-35, VG-36, and VG-39 with different engines and armament, but none reached production before the Armistice.
Where you'll see it
Saw very limited operational use with the Armée de l'Air in 1940; most completed airframes were destroyed or captured by Germany.
Related aircraft
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