FBA 19

Franco-British Aviation · France · first flew 1924 · bomber

The FBA 19 was a flying boat bomber developed in France in 1924 by Franco-British Aviation. It was similar in configuration to the firm's wartime designs.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.45 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Conventional biplane flying boat
Single tractor engine in a streamlined nacelle in the interplane gap
Open cockpits for the crew

A biplane flying boat with a tractor engine nacelle mounted in the gap between the wings.

Specifications

The FBA 19 has a length of 9.45 m (31 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.4 m (47 ft).
Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).

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

History

The prototype first flew on 24 August 1924. It set a world altitude record for its class with a 500 kg payload.

Variants

The FBA 19 HB.2 was a two-seat reconnaissance bomber, with nine built. The HMB.2 was an amphibian version, and the HMT.3 was a three-seat amphibian transport, with one built.

Where you'll see it

The French Navy did not order it. The only commercial transport example built was sold to Air Union, and the Nationalist Chinese Navy was also an operator.

Related aircraft

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