Renard R.36 Belgian Fighter Aircraft

The Renard R.36 was designed as a replacement for the Belgian Air Force’s Fairey IIM fighters. Powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Y liquid-cooled engine of 910hp, the R.36 was capable of 314mph. Armament consisted of a 20mm cannon firing through the propeller hub and four 7.7mm machine guns located in the wings.

First flying on 5 November 1937, it underwent several changes, most notably an enlargement of the rudder and relocation of the radiator. In 1938 the Belgian government placed an order for 40 of the fighters. However in January 1939 after flying 75.5 hours, the prototype crashed. The investigation was inconclusive as to the cause, and in the meantime, the Hawker Hurricane had been ordered and the contract for the 40 fighters was cancelled.

Two developments of the R.36 were made. The R.37 powered by a 1,100 hp Gnome-Rhône 14N-21 radial engine and the R.38 powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin engine.