Dewoitine D.338

Dewoitine · France · first flew 1936 · airliner

The Dewoitine D.338 was a French three-engine long-range airliner of the late 1930s, operated by Air France on its prestigious international routes. It was a refined development of the D.33 line and could carry around 22 passengers over long distances.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	3 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	22.13 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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1930s French long-range trimotor airliner
Three radial engines — one in nose, two in wings
Used on Air France South American and Far East routes

A sleek low-wing trimotor with retractable undercarriage, three Hispano-Suiza or Gnome-Rhône radial engines, and a tapered wing. The nose engine gives it a distinctive tri-engine look different from wing-only trimotors.

Specifications

The Dewoitine D.338 has a length of 22.13 m (73 ft).
It has a wingspan of 29.36 m (96 ft).
Its maximum speed is 310 km/h (193 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1936, the D.338 entered Air France service in 1936-37 and became the backbone of the airline's intercontinental routes to South America and the Far East. It replaced earlier types on the prestigious Toulouse–Buenos Aires and Paris–Saigon routes. A total of around 30 were built; several continued flying under Vichy France during World War II.

Variants

The D.338 was closely related to the D.333 and D.342; minor equipment differences distinguished individual aircraft rather than formal subvariants.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by Air France on long-range international routes from 1937; continued in service until the disruptions of World War II ended regular operations.

Related aircraft

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