| R.35 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Airliner Type of aircraft |
| National origin | Belgium |
| Manufacturer | Renard |
| Designer | Alfred Renard |
| First flight | 1 April 1938 |
| Number built | 1 |
TheRenard R.35 was a prototypepressurisedairliner of the 1930s built by theBelgian aircraft manufacturerConstructions Aéronautiques G. Renard. Athree-engined low-wingedmonoplane with retractable undercarriage, the R.35 was destroyed in a crash on its first flight.
In 1935, Alfred Renard, chief designer and co-founder of the Renard company, started design of a pressurised airliner for use bySABENA on its routes to theBelgian Congo. Renard designed a low-winged monoplane of all-metal construction, powered by three engines as required by SABENA, and received an order for a single prototype on 3 April 1936.[1] The R.35 had a circular section fuselage, housing a pressurised cabin which accommodated twenty passengers and a flight crew of three. It was intended to be powered by a range of radial engines with the 950 hp (709 kW)Gnome-Rhône 14K preferred by Renard, but the prototype was fitted with 750 hp (560 kW)Gnome-Rhône 9K engines.[2][3]
The R.35 was completed early in 1938.[2] On 1 April 1938, it was planned to carry out high-speed taxiing trials atEvere airfield in front of an audience of visiting dignitaries and journalists. After carrying out a single taxi-run, however, the R.35 took off during a second run, and while attempting acircuit to return to the runway, the R.35 dived into the ground and was destroyed, killing the pilot Georges Van Damme. The cause of the crash was unknown.[4][5][6] Following this crash, SABENA abandoned its interest in the R.35, and Renard abandoned development.[2]
Data from A Belgian Rare Avis[7]
General characteristics
Performance
