Subject of this association is the Bugatti 100P, in
1937 the development of this extremely advanced
airplane was started. This was under contract of the
French airforce ministry, Ettore Bugatti had hired
the Belgian Louis de Monge as chief engineer. The
first version of the airplane was planned as a speedrecord
airplane, a military version would follow
later. Ettore Bugatti is of course well-known through his race- en sportscars from the years in between both worldwars, but he was also interested in many other technical devices. During the first world war airplane- engines were designed and built, while in the thirties the Bugatti "autorail" was the factor that brought work to the Bugatti factory in Molsheim. This light train reached 195 km/h, and with this held the world record for a long time. Louis de Monge built his first airplanes before WWI, during WWI he designed and produced modern propellers, sold under the name Lumière. After WWI several, often technically advanced, designs were made, of which none was a commercial success. Tragically the Bugatti 100P airplane never flew, the Germans invaded Paris before it was 100% ready. The airplane surprisingly survived the war, and still exists. The airplane is now in the EAA museum in Oshkosh, USA. Both engines exist, and were built into Bugatti race-cars. Some of the airplane´s characteristics:
Bugatti and aircraft enthusiasts can read about the 100P, but will never be able to buy a plane like it. Drawings on the top and right: Hubert Cance |