Dewoitine D.338

D.338
Role	Airliner
Manufacturer	Dewoitine
First flight	1936
Primary user	Air France
Number built	D.338 30 D.342 1 D.620 1
Developed from	D.333

The Dewoitine D.338 was a 1930s French 22-passenger airliner built by Dewoitine.

Design and development

The D.338 was a development of the D.333 with retractable undercarriage. First flown in 1936 it had a slightly increased wingspan, and the fuselage was lengthened by 3.18 m (10 ft 5¼ in). For short routes, the aircraft could carry 22 passengers, aircraft used in the Far East were fitted with 12 luxury seats, including six that could be converted into sleeping berths.

Operational service

The D.338 had a reputation for reliability and was used during World War II in the French overseas possessions. Nine aircraft that survived the war were operated on the Paris-Nice service for several months.

Variants

D.338

Main production version, 30 built.

D.342

One aircraft built in 1939 with improved lines and room for 24-passengers, powered by three 682 kW (915 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14N radial engines. Delivered to Air France in 1942.

D.620

Development of the D.338 with three supercharged 656 kW (880 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14Krsd radial engines and room for 30 passengers, one built but not delivered.

Operators

 France

• Air France

 Argentina

• The Argentine Air Force operated two Dewoitine 338 after World War II: F-AQBT Ville de Chaetres was given the military registration T 170 and F-AQBR Ville de Pau became T 171. Both planes flew until the late 1940s.

Specifications (D.338)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 22.13 m (72 ft 7¼ in)
• Wingspan: 29 m (95 ft 1¾ in)
• Height: ()
• Wing area: 80 m² (861.14 ft²)
• Powerplant: 3 × Hispano-Suiza V16/17 radial engine, 485 kW (650 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 301 km/h (187 mph)
• Cruise speed: 260 km/h (162 mph)

References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.