Wibault 8 Simoun
Avions Michel Wibault · France · first flew 1926 · fighter
The Wibault 8 Simoun was a tandem-seat, parasol-wing fighter designed and built in France to a 1925 specification that was later withdrawn. Only one was completed.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Parasol wing of constant chord braced to the lower fuselage by pairs of struts, with cabane struts over the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol wing of constant chord braced to the lower fuselage by pairs of struts, with cabane struts over the fuselage
- Trailing-edge cut-out in the wing above the pilot's cockpit
- Two seats in tandem, the rear one with a Scarff ring and a pair of Lewis guns
Look for an all-metal parasol-wing two-seater with a fully enclosed engine driving a two-blade propeller, two forward-firing guns in the fuselage and a gunner's ring in the rear cockpit.
Specifications
- The Wibault 8 Simoun has a length of 8.95 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.63 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 236 km/h (147 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by Michel Wibault around a 1925 Service Technique de l'Aéronautique requirement for a two-seat fighter, as one of a series of Wibault parasol-wing aircraft. It first flew in May 1926.
Variants
Only one Wib 8 was completed. It shared its 500 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Hb engine with the later Wib 12 and the single-seat Wib 170.
Where you'll see it
Like other contenders for the contract it failed to meet the S.T.Aé's expectations. The two-seat specification was withdrawn and development of the sole Wib 8 ended.
Related aircraft
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