The LACAB GR.8 Doryphore was a prototype
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
multi-role combat aircraft of the 1930s. A twin-engined
biplane, it was intended to carry out bombing and reconnaissance missions, as well as act as an escort fighter. It was already obsolete when completed and no more were built.
Development and design
In 1934, the Belgian Air Force drew up a specification for a multi-purpose bomber and long-range reconnaissance aircraft, which could also act as a heavy fighter. To meet this requirement, designs were produced by
Les Ateliers de Constructions Aéronautiques Belges (LACAB) and by
Stampe et Vertongen (the
Stampe SV-10).
[GR.8 Doryphore]
. ''Уголок неба'' (in Russian), 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
''SAMOLOTY WOJSKOWE ŚWIATA 1935-1945''. (in Polish). Retrieved 21 August 2009.
The LACAB design was a twin-engined
biplane of mixed construction, with a slab-sided steel tube fuselage with plywood and fabric covering and wooden,
two-bay unequal span wings. It was powered by two
Gnome-Rhône Mistral Major
The Gnome-Rhône 14K ''Mistral Major'' was a 14-cylinder, two-row, air-cooled radial engine. It was Gnome-Rhône's major aircraft engine prior to World War II, and matured into a highly sought-after design that would see licensed production ...
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 ...
s mounted between the wings, and was fitted with a fixed
tailwheel undercarriage
Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...
.
Manually operated gun turrets, each mounting two machine guns, were mounted in nose and dorsal positions, while two more guns were in a ventral position.
The sole prototype first flew on 14 May 1936 and was handed over to the Belgian Air Force for testing on 2 July 1936.
The Spanish Republican Air Force attempted to buy the prototype LACAB GR.8, but the
international arms embargo prevented delivery to Spain.
[Nash, David,]
Aircraft that didn't participate in the Spanish Civil war
. ''Aircraft of the Spanish Civil War''. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
The prototype was badly damaged in a landing accident on 4 April 1938 with its undercarriage and starboard wings destroyed. Although the aircraft was repaired, it was not flown again, and no production was undertaken. The GR.8 was scrapped after the
German invasion of Belgium in May 1940.
Operators
;
*
Belgian Air Force
Specifications
References
*"Plane Facts:The unaesthetic LACAB". ''
Air International'', January 1977, Volume 12 No. 1. Bromley,UK:Fine Scroll Publishing. p. 46.
* Grey, C.G. & Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd.. London. 1938
External links
Photo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lacab Gr.8
1930s Belgian bomber aircraft
1930s Belgian military reconnaissance aircraft
Biplanes
Aircraft first flown in 1936
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft