Blériot 53

The Blériot 53 was a twin-engined reconnaissance biplane designed and built in France during 1915, although there is some doubt that the aircraft was actually given the designation Blériot 53. The fuselage was partly covered with fabric, leaving most of the rear fuselage uncovered, with an all-flying tailplane and rudder at the rear and a tail skid underneath. Because the centre of gravity coincided with the main wheels and the nose tipped down when fully loaded, a long skid extended from the forward fuselage. Two 60 kilowatt (80 horsepower) Le Rhône 9C rotary engines were mounted on struts between the wings, and trials were also believed to have been made with 75 kilowatt Anzani 10 radial engines. It formed the basis of a four-engined bomber flown in 1916.