Copyright 2008 by Brandon Cope
 
 

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Bloch M.B. 157 fighter

The M.B. 157 was the final development of the M.B. 150 line. It began as an attempt to fit a more powerful engine into the M.B. 152 airframe, but required a redesigned fuselage. While this took only six months to accomplish. it was six months too long, as the Germans had invaded before it could even be test flown. The Germans captured the plane but didn't fly it until 1942. It showed superb performance, but the Germans were more interested in the engine than the airframe. In the end, the engine was removed for study, only to be destroyed by Allied bombing. Thus ended the B.M. 157, which could have potentially been the best French fighter of the war.

The B.M. 157 uses 59 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Medium Fighter chassis +3, Medium Fighter Wings +2, three retractable wheels +0.
Powertrain: 1,186-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 1,186-kW prop and 165-gallon self-sealing fuel tanks [Wings and Body].
Occupancy: 1 CS  Cargo: 2.5 Body.
 
Armor F R/L B T U
Body 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3
Wings 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3
Pilot +0/20 +0/0 +0/20 +0/0 +0/20

Weaponry
2¥Aircraft LMGs/7.5mm MAC 34 M39 [Wings:F] (500 rounds each)*
2¥20mm Long Aircraft AC/HS 404 [Body:F] (60 rounds each)*
* Link fires both LMGs at once or all four guns together

Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot.

Statistics
Size: 32'x35'x11' Payload: 0.96 tons Lwt: 3.59 tons
Volume:  200 Maint.: 41 hours Price: $23,700

HT: 12.
HPs: 240 Body, 80 each Wing, 24 each Wheel.
 
 
aSpeed: 441
 aAccel: 12
 aDecel: 18
 aMR: 4.5 aSR: 2 Stall: 85 mph

Design Notes
The historical speed has been used (design speed was 393 mph), as well as the actual wing area (209 square feet). chassis HPs, cost and weight were doubled, but design weight still had to be increased 7% to match the historical number.