SPCA Meteore 63
Societe Provencale de Constructions Aeronautiques · France · first flew 1925 · airliner
The SPCA Meteore 63 was a French biplane flying boat airliner and the first aircraft built by Societe Provencale de Constructions Aeronautiques. It carried up to six passengers in an enclosed cabin in the hull.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.05 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-hull biplane flying boat with a single step
- Three tractor engines in nacelles on steel-tube struts in the interplane gap
- Single-bay, non-staggered wings of unequal span with a wide gap
Look for a wooden biplane flying boat with three engines in the gap between the wings, a two-seat open flight deck and a fin that blends into the hull.
Specifications
- The SPCA Meteore 63 has a length of 13.05 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.2 m (70 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 167 km/h (104 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It made its maiden flight on 3 September 1925. It was the first flying boat to meet the conditions for a first-class seaworthiness certificate.
Variants
There was a single type, with three 180 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ac engines. The lower wing sat on top of the hull.
Where you'll see it
It won first prize in the 1926 commercial seaplane contest after passing every test without failures or repairs. In 1927 it flew operational-standard test flights non-stop from Marseille to Algiers.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.