Besson H-3
title: "Besson H-3" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["flying-boats", "1920s-french-civil-utility-aircraft", "triplanes", "besson-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1920", "rotary-engined-aircraft"] topic_path: "geography/france" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Besson_H-3" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Besson H-3 |
| image | Besson H-3 at Paris Salon 1919.jpg |
| aircraft_type | Touring flying-boat |
| national_origin | France |
| manufacturer | Marcel Besson |
| number_built | 1 |
| first_flight | 1920 |
| :: |
NOTOC | name = Besson H-3 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Besson H-3 at Paris Salon 1919.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Touring flying-boat | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = Marcel Besson | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 1 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1920 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Besson H-3 was a French civil touring triplane flying boat designed by the Marcel Besson company of Boulogne. One aircraft was built and the type did not enter production.
Design and development
The H-3 was designed as a civil touring flying boat and had single-bay equal-span wings and room for two in a side-by-side configuration cockpit, it was fitted with dual-controls. Initially powered by a 60 hp le Rhône 9Z rotary, the H-3 was found to be under-powered and re-engined with a 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary, (from Société Clerget-Blin et Cie), driving a tractor propeller. The aircraft did not enter production and the sole H-3 was re-designated MB-12 in 1922 when it was modified with an enlarged central wing.
Specifications (H-3)
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Besson_H-3_3-view_Les_Ailes_November_24,1921.png" caption="Besson H-3 3-view drawing from Les Ailes November 24, 1921"] ::
|ref= |prime units?=met General characteristics
|genhide=
|crew=2 |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=8.25 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |upper span m= |upper span ft= |upper span in= |upper span note= |mid span m=11 |mid span ft= |mid span in= |mid span note=after modification to MB-12 |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |height m=3.10 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm=30.99 |wing area sqft= |wing area note=the MB-12 had a wing area of 32.20 m2 |empty weight kg=590 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg=875 |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |more general= Powerplant
|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Clerget 9B |eng1 type=rotary piston engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=130 |eng1 note= |more power=
|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed pitch wooden tractor propeller |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=
Performance
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=155 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=450 |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=3200 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |more performance=
References
Notes
Bibliography
References
- Orbis 1985, p. 655
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