Farman F.222
Farman · France · first flew 1935 · bomber
The Farman F.222 was France's primary heavy bomber of the late 1930s, notable for its unusual tandem push-pull engine arrangement and twin-tail configuration. Though already obsolescent in 1939, it carried out France's first bombing raid of the Second World War over Germany.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin tail fins and rudders with a deep, slab-sided fuselage and fixed spatted undercarriage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-engine French heavy bomber with engines paired in push-pull tandem nacelles above a high-set wing
- Twin tail fins and rudders with a deep, slab-sided fuselage and fixed spatted undercarriage
- Unusual push-pull engine arrangement gives a distinctive paired-nacelle profile unlike any other bomber
Unmistakable for its paired push-pull engine nacelles above the high-mounted straight wing, twin tail fins, and deep fixed-undercarriage fuselage; the tractor-pusher nacelle arrangement is unique among operational French bombers.
Specifications
- The Farman F.222 has a length of 21.45 m (70 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 36 m (118 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 320 km/h (199 mph).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed in the early 1930s as a large strategic bomber, the F.222 entered Armée de l'Air service in 1937. On the night of 7–8 September 1939, F.222s flew the first Allied bombing mission of the war, dropping leaflets and then bombs on German territory. Operations continued through the Battle of France.
Variants
The F.221 was an earlier variant; the F.223 was a refined version with retractable undercarriage and Hispano-Suiza engines. A small number of F.222.2s had revised engine cooling.
Where you'll see it
Operated by French heavy bomber groups from 1937 through the armistice in June 1940; a few F.223s continued in transport and liaison use with Free France into 1944.
Related aircraft
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