The Astra C was a 1912 French single engine biplane, manufactured by
Société Astra
''Société Astra des Constructions Aéronautiques'' was a major French manufacturer of balloons, airships, and aeroplanes in the early 20th century. It was founded in 1908 in aviation, 1908 when Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe purchased Édouard Su ...
at
Villacoublay. In 1913, the Astra CM Hydro-avion three-seat floatplane version was used to make the world's first scheduled passenger-carrying flights.
Design and development
The Astra C was initially designed as a single seat biplane, powered by a single 50 hp Renault engine in tractor configuration. It was constructed primarily as wooden framework sections, covered in canvas and wire-braced. The fuselage was of triangular cross section, with a wheeled main undercarriage plus nose skid and tail skid. The wings were of unequal span, and employed wing-warping for roll control.
The Astra CM was developed from the Astra C, with a more powerful engine and added accommodation for two observers, for military reconnaissance.
The Astra Hydro, (an Astra CM 'Hydro-avion' (seaplane)), was a further development in 1913, with a
Renault V-12 engine and 3 Tellier floats (2 main floats , and one small tail float). The wooden frame elements were largely replaced by steel tubes, and the wing ribs and floats were the principal remaining wooden components. at least two were built and an order for two from the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
(RN), serialled ''106'' and ''107'', was not completed.
Operational history
During the St. Malo races, 14-26 August 1912, the first CM Hydro was flown to first place by Labouret. The second CM Hydro, powered by a horizontally mounted
Salmson M.9 water-cooled radial engine, flew at Monaco but crashed.
On 22 March 1913, using at least one Astra CM Hydro-avion, French operator
Compagnie générale transaérienne
The ''Compagnie générale transaérienne'' (CGT: General Trans-Air Company) was a predecessor of Air France, founded in 1909. At first it operated airships in France and Switzerland, then added float planes and direct flights from Paris to London. ...
started the world's first scheduled passenger-carrying flights, operating from
Cannes
Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...
to
Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one million[Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo ( ; ; or colloquially ; , ; ) is an official administrative area of Monaco, specifically the Ward (country subdivision), ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to ...]
.
[Jung, Philippe. 2010]
Alpes-Maritimes & Monaco Aerospace History
/ref>
Variants
;Astra C
:Civil version, with 50 hp Renault engine.[
;Astra Hydro
:Floatplane version of the Astra CM, with 100 hp Renault engine.][
]
Operators
;
*Compagnie générale transaérienne
The ''Compagnie générale transaérienne'' (CGT: General Trans-Air Company) was a predecessor of Air France, founded in 1909. At first it operated airships in France and Switzerland, then added float planes and direct flights from Paris to London. ...
;
*Royal Hellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy (HN; , abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy historically hails from the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. ...
** Hellenic Naval Air Service
Specifications (Astra CM)
References
Bibliography
* Thomas, Andrew. "In the Footsteps of Daedulus: Early Greek Naval Aviation". ''Air Enthusiast'', No. 94, July–August 2001, pp. 8–9.
Further reading
*
*
External links
{{Commons category, Astra C
* Phot
Astra CM, Motor 75 hk Renault
Norsk Luftfartsmuseum
Astra seaplane with Renault V-12 engine
(Canada Aviation & Space Museum/Corbis via Getty Images)
- bad link
1910s French sport aircraft
1910s French military reconnaissance aircraft
C
Biplanes
Single-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1912