Descamps 17 A.2
Descamps · France · first flew 1924 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Descamps 17 A.2 was an all-metal two-seat reconnaissance fighter built to a French government programme of 1923. It was a sesquiplane with no wire bracing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sesquiplane: the upper wing has twice the span of a short, narrow lower wing
- N-form interplane struts leaning backwards because of the wing stagger
- Main wheels in trouser fairings under the meeting point of the interplane struts
Look for a two-seat biplane whose lower wing is far smaller than the upper. It has a deep, narrow fuselage, a conventional tail with the tailplane braced by struts, and trouser-faired wheels.
Specifications
- The Descamps 17 A.2 has a length of 9.35 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.5 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first prototype appeared in March 1924 with a 400 hp Lorraine-Dietrich 12D V-12. By 1926 it had a 450 hp Lorraine-Dietrich 12E W-12.
Variants
The Descamps 16 (DB-16) had the V-12 engine and the Descamps 17 (DB-17) the W-12. Caudron built the type under licence as the C.17 A.2.
Where you'll see it
Six aircraft were built for the Armee de l'Air by Caudron once the type met the reconnaissance programme requirements. In late 1927 a civil C.17 toured six European countries, covering 8,200 km.
Related aircraft
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