The Blériot 111 was a French four-seat executive transport monoplane designed by André Herbemont.[1] The first French aircraft to be fitted with a retractable landing gear, after six years development it was not ordered into production.[1]
The Bleriot 111 was a low-wing single-engined monoplane with an enclosed passenger cabin and an open cockpit for the pilot forward of the cabin.[1] The first variant was the Bleriot 111/1 which first flew on 24 January 1929 powered by a 280 hp (209 kW) Hispano-Suiza 6Mbr 6-cyl. water-cooled in-line engine.[1] In October 1929 a second variant flew (known as the 111bis or 111/2) which had a modified landing gear.[1] The 111/2 was re-engined with a 420 hp (313 kW) Gnome & Rhône 9Ady radial engine and re-designated 111/3.[1] The 111/3 was flown as part of the Patrouille Blériot which gave exhibitions and demonstrations around France and Spain in the 1930s.[1]
The 111/1 was modified as the 111/4 with a revised wing bracing, a 400 hp (298 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engine and retractable landing gear,a first for a French aircraft.[1] The 111/4 flew on 27 October 1930.[1] The next variant was the 111/5 which moved the pilot's cockpit to the rear of the passenger cabin and was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engine.[1] A re-engined variant of the 111/5 was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Gnome-Rhône K-14(sic) radial engine and was named Sagittaire (English: Sagittarius).[1]
Sagittaire later fitted with a new wing and 840 hp (626 kW) Gnome & Rhône 14Kbrs and was re-designated 111/6.[1] The 111/6 was entered into the 1934 London to Melbourne air race but it was withdrawn when the landing gear was damaged two days before the race start.[1] With no commercial interest in the design no more Bleriot 111s were built.[1]
The 111/1 was modified as the 111/4 with a revised wing bracing, a 400 hp (298 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engine and retractable landing gear,a first for a French aircraft.[1]
Bleriot 111/5
Bleriot 111/5 photo from L'Aerophile Salon 1932The pilot's cockpit moved to the rear of the passenger cabin and fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engine.[1]
Sagittaire
Blériot Sagittaire photo from L'Aerophile November 1934A re-engined variant of the 111/5 was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Gnome-Rhône K-14(sic) radial engine and was named Sagittaire (English: Sagittarius).[1]
Bleriot 111/6
Sagittaire later fitted with a new wing and 840 hp (626 kW) Gnome & Rhône 14Kbrs
