[Data Sheet] Ae.M.B 1 / 2 “Bombi”

mpata10 · February 11, 2017

Model: Ae.M.B 1 / 2 “Bombi”

Technical Description: To this day, the "Bombi" aircraft mentioned in 1935 is the only bomber developed and built in Argentina, even the only Latin America. Although designed as a pure bomber, the aircraft was successfully used as pest control, reconnaissance aircraft, transporter, parachute hunters and as sick transports after considerable initial difficulties. The Argentine aviation industry learned a lot from the mistakes in the design and the difficulties in the deployment of the Bombi for future projects. Thus, the single-engine low-deck is an important milestone in Latin aviation. A list of all built machines of the Fabrica Militar de Aviones Ae.MB1 / 2 and their fates is attached to the article.

Visual Aspects:

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Short History: Bombi enters service

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At the beginning of 1936 began the deliveries of Ae.M.B.1, with the prototype, registered 201; The apparatus 202 to 209 was discharged by the 2nd Division of Aeronautical Material of the Army on 6 Mar '36, followed by 210 and 211 on April 10. The model was officially presented to the authorities and the press on the 12th of that month, causing a good impression among the attendees. On May 20, the last apparatuses were delivered, registered from 212 to 215. Initially six went to serve in the Bombardment Group of the Air Regiment 3, in the BAM Los Tamarindos, in Mendoza, officially created on July 14 '36 and the rest In the Air Regiment 1 in the BAM El Palomar.

During tests for its acceptance, on May 20 apparatus serial number 3 (then enrolled 203) suffered an accident on the runway of the Military Aircraft Factory for the breakdown of the landing gear, while it was piloted by Sergeant Julio Arrieta.

On May 2 at 11:45 am the first operational accident occurred in the new airplane, when the 207 registered, while rolling, after landing normally in the Tamarindos, lost a wheel by the breakage of the bolts joining the support flanges of the axis. The landing gear, the pitot tube (installed under the left wing) was broken and a propeller blade was bent. He was manned by the pilots Major Alfredo Perez Aquino and Captain Enrique Guntsche, plus two passengers. The plane had at the moment 21:35 min. Of flight and the cost of repair was estimated at 2,600 pesos national currency.

The bomber's life, which was nicknamed "Bombi" by his crews, continued to be complicated, mainly due to the lateral stability problems generated by the dorsal turret, which caused turbulence on the steering wheel and made the turns very difficult, especially At low speeds. In addition, the landing gear presented problems due to its low resistance and the crews complained about the low speed.

Thus, on 9 July '36, when it took off from El Palomar, the 210 enrolled, crashed with irreparable damage, although the crew left unharmed. It was the first device discharged, on April 29, '37 by Reserved Military Bulletin 1087. On September 21, license number 207 lost the left wheel when it touched the ground, an accident similar to that suffered on September 26 by 203, the same day that the 209 when he landed.

Two days later the 214 lost the right wheel in the descent and the 19 Oct, the 212 that was destined to the School of Application of Aviation, capó to the landing, without major consequences for the crew. All were repaired.

This series of accidents culminated on December 21, when the 207 crashed in the area of Despeñaderos, province of Cordoba. The pilot, the copilot, two observers and the radio operator managed to parachute, but the mechanic died, the only fatal victim caused during the service of the Bombi.

Shortly before, Nov. 17, Madsen machine guns of 11.25 mm and 7.65 mm had been purchased for Ae.M.O.1 and Ae.M.B.1. With 11.25 the two ventral and bonnet mounts were replaced, to provide a greater defensive capacity. With the others, the dorsal turret was equipped, which until then was unarmed.

During 1936 the Military Aircraft Factory repaired eight aircraft, while fifty wings were built for Ae.M.B.1. The following year, the continuous failure of the landing gear led the FMA to try a new one for the Ae.MB1, which now depended on the Observation and Bombardment Group of the Regiment 1. Other works carried out by the FMA were the Experimentation of the 12.7 mm Colt machine gun on the bonnet of the Cyclone engine (although this position was finally annihilated), the study of the Bofors bomber for bombs from 10 to 100 kg under the fuselage, the adaptation of the Calderoni hornet for 48 incendiary bombs Of 2 kg and the studio of ventral door with closing to curtain to use in normal conditions the viewfinder of bombing, the telescope Bush and machine gun of foot. In addition the exhaust manifold, the oil radiator was changed and a new ring of speed was tried, although in many cases the Bombi flew without him.

Nevertheless, the accidents continued, when 12 of January '37 broke the undercarriage of the 206 and there was a semicapotaje. Due to this situation, the 1º Mar was issued Reserved Order 3 by which the Ae.MB1 stopped flying until the problem of the landing trains that showed lack of elasticity and were not practical to operate from tracks not Prepared. This measure was transitory and soon afterwards the devices remained in service.

On June 5, '37, airplane 201, as specified by the Bulletin Reserved Military (BMR) 1293, took off from El Palomar on the way to Paraná (Entre Ríos), with a stopover in Tortugas. Arriving at the place of the scale had some problems, so they landed in the village of Galvez, where they loaded fuel and took off at 17:10. He was manned by Sergeant 1º Pelliza, accompanied by sergeants Algarate and Abrallay and Corporal 1º Maciel. They

arrived at Regiment 2, at BAM General Urquiza, in Paraná, at night and when attempting to land without visibility crashed 500 m from the runway at 18:30, due to a poor appreciation of altitude. The engine was several meters away and the crew members were injured. The Bombi, which had been the prototype, was very destroyed and was discharged, reducing the endowment in service to twelve units.

Despite this, on July 9, a large air parade was held for Independence Day which had the participation of all remaining Bombi, in the only formation that they made with 12 apparatuses. On 24 Aug, another crash occurred when the 202 crashed during a landing in which the brakes failed.

From Ae.M.B.1 to Ae.M.B.2

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Faced with this reality, on 5 Feb '38, BMR 1235 was authorized to modify the machines that, at the end of the work, changed the name Ae.M.B.1 to that of Ae.M.B.2.

To solve the problem with the landing gear, it was ordered the total change of the same along the fairing. The fuel tanks were modified and the tail skate was reinforced, while an emergency door was installed. The turret was dismantled to solve the problem of lack of control on the steering wheel and because the recoil of the machine guns constantly damaged the fit, leaving only as a defensive weapon the machine gun ventral of 11.25 millimeters.

The roof of the appliances was modified and the door was also enlarged, which became rectangular, when previously it was of an almost triangular shape, shrinking in the lower part. This allowed a faster abandonment of the aircraft in case of emergency. These jobs took five hours by plane and were carried out in the FMA, as were the test flights.

That year culminated in the development of Ae.MB2, whose fleet had the following destinations: 202 and 203 continued in Mendoza, 205, 206, 208, 209, 211 and 213 served in Pringles, 212 continued in the FMA although it was assigned to BAM Pringles (V. Mercedes, San Luis) and 204 and 214 were not yet in service.

Characteristics

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Production Status

First flight: July 9^th of 1935
Introduction year: 1936

Status: Retired

Number built: 15

Crew Data
Number of crew: 4
Roles of crew: Pilot x2, Bombardier and Gunner

Engine Data (Piston Aircraft)
Manufacturer: Wright Aeronautical

Model: Wright Cyclone SGR-1820F.3

Type: 9Ra 8:5 Reduction gearing
Number of engines: 1
Number of cylinders: 9

Configuration: Star

Cooling: Air-Cooled

Supercharge
Critical alt. 8.000ft

(Impeler gear ration) 8.31:1
Fuel: 87 octane
Dry weight: 1060 lb

Prop Gear Ratio: 11:16

Blower Ratio: 8.3:1
Gear ratio:

Compression Ratio: 6,4: 1

Fuel Data
Fuel tanks:

Fuel Consumption per CV per h: 240 g

Autonomy: 5h

Power Data
WEP:
Take Off Power(1 minute): 710Hp/1950rpm

Maximum continuous power: 710HP/1950rpm/5500ft

650HP/1950tpm/ S.L
Cruising Power: .. at (1800rpm)

Propellor Data
Manufacturer: Hamilton Standart
Type:
Number of blades: 3
Blade diameter: 3.60m/ 3.80m

Basic Geometric Data
Length: 10.90m
Wing span: 17.20m
Wing area: 35m2
Height: 2.80m
Flap area: -
Elevator area: 1.57m2

Rudder area: 1.57m2
Aileron area: 3m2

Tail Wing: 1.24m2

Tail Fin: 3.36m2

Weight Data
Empty weight: 2120kg

Useful load: 1380kg
Loaded weight: 3500kg

General Performance Data
Maximum speed: 285km/h

Minimum speed:

Landing speed: 105km/h
Cruising speed: 240km/h 2100m
Service ceiling: 6000m

Absolute ceiling: 6700m
Range: 600km

Max Speed Chart
285km/h at 2100m

Rate of Climb
3min 30sec. at 1.000 meters
14min 36sec at 3.000 meters
37min at 5.000 meters

Armament

Ae.M.B 1 “Bombi”

2 Madsen 1933 machine guns of 7.65 mm in a dorsal turret, one similar in the bonnet and another of 11.35 mm in a ventral position and up to 400 kg of pumps.

Ae.M.B 2 “Bombi”

1 Madsen 1933 machine guns of 7.65 mm in the bonnet and another of 11.35 mm in a ventral position and up to 400 kg of pumps.

Sources

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