Couzinet 20

The Couzinet 20 was a low power, three-engined aircraft designed in France in 1929 for postal duties, though it could have been configured to carry three passengers or as a medical transport.

Its wing was entirely wooden, built around two box spars and plywood covered, with a thick section which thinned continuously from root to tip.

[1] The Type 20's two outer nine-cylinder, 30 kW (40 hp) radial Salmson 9AD engines were mounted just ahead of the wing leading edge with their cylinders exposed for cooling; the third was in the nose.

They were retracted by lever-operated cables into the engine cowlings, with the axle and drag strut lying on the wing underside.

[1] Construction of the Couzinet 20 began in May 1929[4] and it was almost ready for flight in January 1930[5] but was destroyed along with the Arc-en-Ciel 2 in a hangar fire at the workshops of the Société d'Aviation Letord at Meudon, France, on 17 February.

[7] It was on display soon after at the 12th Paris Salon[8][9] and on 31 May in demonstrations of touring aircraft organised by the French Aero Club Association.

In November the Type 22, still owned by Couhé and described as having 40 hp Salmsons, had its engine mountings lengthened to adjust the centre of gravity and improve handling.

Couzinet 20