Bloch MB.220
Avions Marcel Bloch · France · first flew 1936 · airliner
The Bloch MB.220 was a French twin-engine short-to-medium range airliner that entered service with Air France in 1937, providing fast and comfortable transport on European routes. Its boxy, slab-sided fuselage was characteristic of French airliner design philosophy of the era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Distinctive slab-sided rectangular fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pre-war French twin-engine airliner
- Distinctive slab-sided rectangular fuselage
- Air France European routes in the late 1930s
The MB.220's very rectangular, flat-sided fuselage with a large single vertical fin and cleanly cowled twin radial engines on a straight low wing makes it recognisable among 1930s European airliners; its profile differs markedly from the more streamlined Douglas DC-3.
Specifications
- The Bloch MB.220 has a length of 19.59 m (64 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.82 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 350 km/h (217 mph).
- Typical crew: 4 + 16 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sixteen aircraft were built, and they served Air France on routes connecting Paris to major European cities until the fall of France in 1940. Several examples were later operated under German administration during the occupation, and a few survived to see post-war service.
Variants
No major structural variants; minor avionics and equipment changes between individual aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by Air France on European routes from 1937; not exported to other airlines.
Related aircraft
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