The Arsenal VG-33 was one of a series of fast French light fighter aircraft under development at the start of World War II, but which matured too late to see extensive service in the French Air Force during the Battle of France.
Maximum speed: 558 km/h (346.73 mph), Maiden flight: 25 Apr 1939, Length: 28.05 ft, Wingspan: 35.43 ft, Introduced: 1940, Manufacturer: Arsenal de l'Aéronautique
Although using the same engine and being lighter, the VG-33 was capable of the same speed as the Dewoitine D.520. Somewhat under-armed compared to the Messerschmitt Bf 109, it matched it in terms of speed and maneuverability, but as was the case with the D.520, due to the limitations of the supercharger in use at the time, this could be achieved only below 5,000 m. In any event, plagued by continued production problems the aircraft never took part in combat. Only 19 of about 40 completed aircraft were actually received by the Armée de l'Air, while at the time of Armistice about 160 were close to completion. Only two machines ever flew in an active group – the GC 1/55 which began life under chaotic conditions four days before the capitulation – but did not have an opportunity to prove its capabilities. The Luftwaffe confiscated twelve VG-33s, perhaps for training use.
Title: Arsenal VG.33 Air Diver (French) Duration 7:28 https://youtu.be/heU1nSOOMGo Published 5 Oct 2012
Among the numerous projects for combat aircraft developed in France in the years immediately prior to the conflict, those designed by the Arsenal de I'Aeronautique beginning in 1936, stand out from the rest. The aim was to develop a monoplane fighter of rather modest size and weight, and several prototypes were prepared. Among these, the VG-33 was the only one to go into production, on the basis of an order that foresaw the completion of no fewer than 820. In practice, however, at the time of the German invasion, only 160 were on the assembly line in various stages of completion and only a dozen or so were ready to fly. During official flight testing, the performance of this small, all-wood fighter proved to be admirable, in spite of the rather limited power (860 hp) of its engine, especially in terms of speed, at times reaching 347 mph (558 km/h).
The VG-33 derived directly from the VG-30 model, the first of the series. This project, presented in mock-up form in the summer of 1936, made its maiden flight at Villacoublay on October 1, 1938, and proved to be faster than the Morane Saulnier M.S.405. The development phase continued with the designing of the VG-31 model, characterized by reduced wing surface area, and of the VG-32, with a return to the original wing size and in which it was planned to install an American Allison V-1710-C15 engine, generating 1,054 hp (786 kw) and fitted with a supercharger. These prototypes were followed by the first VG-33, marked by a return to the original Hispano-Suiza 12Y 31 engine. The aircraft was tested in flight in the spring of 1939, and official tests began on August 11. The Arsenal fighter was a low-wing, single-seater aircraft with retractable landing gear. It was quite light and compact, but heavily armed with a 20 mm cannon and four 7.5 mm (0.295 in) machine guns in the wings.
While production of the VG-33 was launched at the Chantiers Adro-Maritimes de la Seine at Sartrouville, Arsenal went ahead with, the development phase of the project, with the aim of improving its potential still further. In the spring of 1940, a prototype appeared, designated VG-34 and provided with a 910 hp Hispano-Suiza engine: this aircraft reached a maximum speed of 327 n (575 km/h) at an altitude of 20,395 ft (6,200 m). The subsequent VG-35 prototype was characterized by even more powerful engine, while the radiator and landing gear of the VG-36 w modified. The final model was the VG-39, provided with a 1,280 hp (955 kw) Hispano-Suiza 12Z engine and characterized by its redesigned wing, capable of carrying armament consisting of six mach guns. Production programs were also prepared for this variant which was to be powered by a 1,600 hp (1194 kw) engine in the final series. The German invasion put a stop to the project.
General Characteristics Crew: 1 Length: 8.55 m (28 ft 1 in) Wingspan: 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) Height: 3.31 m (10 ft 10 in) Wing area: 14 m2 (150 sq ft) Empty weight: 2,050 kg (4,519 lb) Gross weight: 2,655 kg (5,853 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 641 kW (860 hp)
Performance Maximum speed: 558 km/h (347 mph; 301 kn) Range: 1,200 km (746 mi; 648 nmi) Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft) Power/mass: 0.24 kW/kg (0.146 hp/lb)
Armament 1 × 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon 4 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns
VG-33 Role: Fighter Manufacturer: Arsenal de l'Aéronautique Designer: Jean Galtier First flight: 25 April 1939 Introduction: 1940 Primary users: Armée de l'Air Luftwaffe Number built: <50
Operators France - Armee de l'Air – (19?) VG-33 Germany - Luftwaffe – (12?) VG-33
