Couzinet 70 Arc en ciel • wp.archivoaereo.com

Drawing on the experience gained from designing the first two “Arc en Ciel” aircraft, René Couzinet completed his arguably most famous plane, the Couzinet 70 Arc en ciel, in early 1932. Its maiden flight took place on February 11, 1932.

Table of Contents

Innovative Design and Power

The aircraft already differed significantly from its predecessors, featuring a different fuselage and a powerplant consisting of three Hispano-Suiza 12Nb engines, each rated at 650 hp. This powerful configuration allowed the aircraft’s flight range to increase to almost 7000 kilometers.

Historic Transatlantic Feat

Thanks to this extended range, French pilot Jean Mermoz was able to complete a transatlantic flight to Buenos Aires in 1933. Such a remarkable success was highly valued by air carriers.

Service with Air France

In 1937, Air France acquired the Couzinet 70. After minor modifications, it was used under the designation Couzinet 71 for mail transport.

Technical Specifications

Modification	Couzinet 70
Wingspan, m	30. 00
Aircraft length, m	16. 15
Aircraft height, m	4. 00
Wing area, m2	98. 45
Empty weight	7480
Maximum takeoff weight	1 6610
Engine type	3 Piston engine Hispano-Suiza 12Nb
Power, hp	3 x 650
Maximum speed, km/h	2 80
Cruising speed, km/h	236
Practical range, km	6800
Practical ceiling, m	7000
Crew	5

Image and diagram gallery of the Couzinet 70 Arc en ciel

How to cite this article:

APA: Couzinet 70 Arc en ciel (). Couzinet 70 Arc en ciel. wp.archivoaereo.com. https://wp.archivoaereo.com/en/couzinet-70-arc-en-ciel-3/

VANCOUVER: Couzinet 70 Arc en ciel [online]. wp.archivoaereo.com; [cited 2026-06-10]. Available at: https://wp.archivoaereo.com/en/couzinet-70-arc-en-ciel-3/