The Bellanger-Denhaut 22 (sometimes known by the military designation Bellanger-Denhaut HB.3) was a twin-engined bomber/reconnaissance flying boat designed by François Denhaut the technical director for seaplanes for the car manufacturer Bellanger.^[1][2]

Design and development

The B-D 22 was an unequal span biplane powered by two 260 hp (194 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8Fd inline piston engines.^[2] It had an open cockpit forward of the wings for the pilot and co-pilot to sit side-by-side and gunner's positions midships and at the bow and the wings could be folded for stowage.^[2] The French Naval aviation ordered five and designated them as the HB.3 although they appear to have been little used.^[2] A commercial transport version was developed with the gunner's positions removed and a cabin for six passengers installed behind the pilot's cockpit.^[1][2]

Operators

 France

• French Navy five as the HB.3

Specifications (B-D 22)

Data from Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft,^[2] Aviafrance:Bellanger-Denhaut BD-22,^[3] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 3/4
• Length: 14.70 m (48 ft 3 in)
• Upper wingspan: 19.00 m (62 ft 4 in)
• Lower wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
• Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 75.2 m² (809 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 2,050 kg (4,519 lb)
• Gross weight: 3,475 kg (7,661 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Hispano-Suiza 8Fd V-8 water-cooled piston engines, 190 kW (260 hp) each
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
• Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 5,400 m (17,700 ft)
• Wing loading: 45.5 kg/m² (9.3 lb/sq ft)
• Power/mass: 0.1126 kW/kg (0.0685 hp/lb)

Armament

• Guns: two ring-mounted 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns, one at bow and one midships
• Bombs: bomb-racks fitted under wing