| 18 | |
|---|---|
 Bernard 18GR | |
| General information | |
| Type | Prototype airliner |
| Manufacturer | Bernard |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 2 |
TheBernard 18 was a prototypeairliner developed inFrance in the 1920s. One of the twoprototypes built was used in an abortive transatlantic crossing attempt and a number of failed attempts for aerial records.
The aircraft was originally developed in response to a specification forCIDNA for an eight-seat airliner, but the second incarnation of Bernard's aircraft manufacturing company went bankrupt before production could take place.
When the company was revived in1927, it built a second example specifically forPaul Tarascon to make an attempt at theOrteig Prize. The space originally reserved for passenger seating was filled with fuel tanks to give the plane an expected range of 6,600 km (4,100 mi). It was also fitted withundercarriage that could be jettisoned after takeoff to save weight. Designated18GR (forGrand Raid) and christenedOiseau Tango ("Tango Bird", after its bright yellow colour, intended to assist rescue efforts in case of a ditching), it was discovered that with the necessary fuel load, the aircraft could not actually become airborne. AfterCharles Lindbergh successfully claimed the prize, the 18GR was converted back to standard 18T configuration and sold to an operator in Canada.
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Related development
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