Blériot 53
Recherches Aéronautique Louis Blériot · France · first flew 1915 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Blériot 53 was a twin-engined reconnaissance biplane designed and built in France during 1915. There is some doubt that the aircraft was actually given that designation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fuselage partly fabric-covered with the rear fuselage left uncovered |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two Le Rhône 9C rotary engines mounted on struts between the wings
- Fuselage partly fabric-covered with the rear fuselage left uncovered
- Long skid extending from the forward fuselage
Look for a 1915 twin-rotary biplane with engines slung between the wings and a skid under the nose. The wingspan is 13.5 m.
Specifications
- The Blériot 53 has a length of 9 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.5 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 95 km/h (59 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It had an all-flying tailplane and rudder at the rear, with a tail skid underneath. The long forward skid was fitted to cope with the nose-down attitude when fully loaded.
Variants
Two 80 hp Le Rhône 9C rotaries were mounted on struts between the wings, with fuel and oil tanks in the nacelles behind them. The design formed the basis of a four-engined bomber flown in 1916.
Where you'll see it
Only one Blériot 53 was built, in 1915.
Related aircraft
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