The WIBAULT 283 T , a Croydon Airport's regular visitor

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14 years 10 months

Posts: 66

Croydon was where regular international passenger services began, and the Croydon - Le Bourget route became the busiest in the world.

The WIBAULT was the workhorse of the french airlines AIR UNION, AIR ORIENT and AIR FANCE after merging.

 

A lot of pictures are available, but always without any colors. It's hard to figure out the real appearence of the aircrafts.

We just have some airline brochure to help us, and very few large models for that period of aviation.

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Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 1,424

If only more of these early birds had been preserved. Great era of aviation! 

Member for

14 years 10 months

Posts: 66

I totaly agree with yo FLY.BUY.

At least, we have some good news in TOULOUSE with the salvage of a large fuselage section of a Dewoitine D-388.

It's a fantastic  plane with a great history.

An interesting link :     aerotheque.com/dewoitine-d338/

A large 1/20 cutaway model is in my rescue center for a full restoration.

Best regards

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Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 5,927

What plans does Aérothèque have for the Dewoitine fuselage section?

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19 years 9 months

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Amazing, thanks for the information and posting the photographs, cloud painter. I must admit that France had a brilliant aviation industry with so many different beautiful designs. 

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14 years 10 months

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It's an early stage for the Aérothèque team, they are collecting original drawings, pictures and documentation with the help of AIRBUS.

They have also one original passenger seat, so  they are planning a complete  interior restoraton.

Best regards

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16 years 7 months

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If the photograph indicates the intentions of Aérothèque, presumably the fuselage will not be fitted out as per the far eastern routes, namely twelve seats including six sleepers!

It's interesting that whilst nine D.338s survived the war, and remained in scheduled service for some years afterwards (I've seen a reference to one operating as late as 1951), I've failed to find any indication of what became of them thereafter or what were their fates. Can you shed any light on this, cloudpainter? Also can you say how and where the fuselage section was found and anything of its provenance?

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14 years 10 months

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The last planes were dismanteled in Marignane, and the fuselage section recovered in the guarrigue ( local bush ), used by hunters as a shelter...

Sad end for such an airliner !

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16 years 7 months

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Ah, I wonder if that same guarrige contains the mortal remains of Miles Nighthawk G-AGWT? It was abandoned at Marignane in 1962/63, subsequently seized by the airport authorities (presumably for non-payment of parking charges) and was last seen in a scrapyard at Lignane c. 1965. No, that would be too much to hope for!

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14 years 10 months

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Miracles happen, but barely twice ...

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16 years 7 months

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Ah, too true, too true!

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11 years 3 months

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Fantastic that such a large section of the Dewoitine survived and really good news that there are plans to restore it.

It's worth keeping an eye out too for old books of the era with colour plates which, whilst not as good as a photograph, can give some idea of the colour schemes. I've attached a couple of plates with a French theme below. The first from a 1927 book with the plate titled "Good Morning" On The Continental Airway and the second from a 1933 publication.

 

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Member for

14 years 10 months

Posts: 66

You are right Mothminor, old books and brochures can give some idea of the interior colour schemes.

Best regards

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11 years 3 months

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They're lovely, cloudpainter :)

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14 years 10 months

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Aviation and Railways are two separate worlds.

With the Wibalut, I have a doubt...

If you compare the railcar designed by Michelin and the Wibault, it's not that clear.

Maybe it's just a coincidence.

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