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The Franco-British Aviation Model 290 was a French four-seat amphibian
flying boat built by the
Franco-British Aviation
Franco-British Aviation (usually known by its initials FBA) was an aircraft manufacturer of the early 20th century, headquartered in London and with its production facilities around Paris. Specialising in seaplanes, it was established in 1913 by ...
Company (FBA) as a replacement for the
Model 17 in
French naval service.
Development
The FBA Company was requested to design a successor to the
Model 17 in the liaison and training role. The company used the experience gained in the
Model 270 and 271 and produced the Model 290. The Model 290 was a
biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...
amphibian with a single
radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ca ...
driving a
pusher propeller
In an aircraft with a pusher configuration (as opposed to a tractor configuration), the propeller(s) are mounted behind their respective engine(s). Since a pusher propeller is mounted behind the engine, the drive shaft is in compression in nor ...
. It had room for four persons in the forward part of the
hull. The Model 290 flew for the first time in April 1931 powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Lorraine engine. A further example, the Model 291 was built with a Gnome-Rhône radial engine.
The French Navy was looking for a VIP transport and ordered eight aircraft based on the Model 291 and designated the Model 293 (with a Lorraine engine) and the Model 294 (with a Gnome-Rhône engine). The navy aircraft were used as executive transports and based at the major French naval air stations.
Variants
;Model 290
:Prototype with a 296hp (221kW)
Lorraine 9Na radial engine, one built.
;Model 291
:Prototype with a 296hp (221kW)
Gnome & Rhône 7Kb radial engine, one built.
;Model 293
:Production aircraft for the French Navy with a 296hp (221kW)
Lorraine 9Na Algol
The Lorraine 9N Algol was a French 9-cylinder radial aeroengine built and used in the 1930s. It was rated at up to , but more usually in the range.
Design and development
The Algol was a conventionally laid out radial engine, with nine cylind ...
radial engine, six built.
;Model 294
:Production aircraft for the French Navy with a 296hp (221kW)
Gnome-Rhône 7Kb engine, two built.
Operators
;
*
French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
Specifications (Model 293)
See also
References
*Bousquet, Gérard. ''French Flying Boats of WW II''. Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus, 2013
* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, p. 1633
{{FBA aircraft
1930s French military transport aircraft
FBA aircraft
Flying boats
Amphibious aircraft
Single-engined pusher aircraft
Biplanes
Aircraft first flown in 1931