Hurel-Dubios HD.31/32/34

HD.34 Photo by Han de Ridder

The Hurel-Dubios HD.31/32/34  were a family of 11 built high aspect ratio designed aircraft. 
It first flew (HD.31) on the 27th January 1953. Air France placed an order for 24 feederliners, Aigle Azur signed for four & Institut Géographique National also ordered four. In the end only the IGN aircraft were delivered for aerial photography. The aircraft's wing design made it ideal for long-duration, low-speed flight, ideal for aerial photography and survey work. These machines were designated HD.34 and were fitted with an extensively glazed nose and an offset retractable nosewheel.

Variants:
HD.31 - prototype with Wright Cyclone C7BA1 radial engines with twin fins (one built). 
HD.32 - prototype with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines with twin fins (two built)
HD.321 - prototype with Wright Cyclone 982 engines and single fin. (two converted from HD.32 by replacing twin fins with a single central and two small auxiliary fins)
HD.34 - aerial survey version for IGN. Glazed nose, retractable offset nosewheel  (all other aircraft had  fixed, faired tricycle undercarriage). Also built with a single central and two small auxiliary fins (eight built)

Specifications: HD.34
General characteristics
Crew: Five
Length: 23.57 m (77 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 45.30 m (148 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 100.0 m2 (1,076 ft2)
Empty weight: 12,300 kg (27,060 lb)
Gross weight: 18,600 kg (40,920 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright Cyclone 982-C9-HE2, 1,140 kW (1,525 hp) each
Performance:
Maximum speed: 280 km/h (175 mph)
Range: 2,200 km (1,375 miles)
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,200 ft)

HD.34s

HD.34

HD.31 Photo by Terence Wong-Lane 

HD.34

HD.34 Photo by Han de Ridder...Nosewheel up!