Latécoère 32
| Latécoère 32 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Latécoère 32.3 | |
| Role | Flying boat mail plane |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Latécoère[1] |
| First flight | 1928 |
| Primary user | Aéropostale[1] |
| Number built | 8 |
| Developed from | Latécoère 23 |
The Latécoère 32 was a flying boat built in France in 1928 for use on Aéropostale's mail routes to North Africa.
Development
[edit]A strengthened and enlarged version of the Latécoère 23, it was a parasol-wing monoplane with sponsons for stability in the water and two engines mounted in tandem push-pull configuration on the wing.
Operational history
[edit]Put into service on the Marseilles-Algiers and Toulouse-Algiers routes, the aircraft proved most unreliable and were involved in a number of accidents. At the end of 1931, the five surviving examples were re-engined with Hispano Suiza 12Hbr engines[1] and re-designated Latécoère 32-3,[1] which persisted in service a little longer.
Eight Latécoère 32's were built with the following construction numbers (numéros d'usine) and registrations:[1]-
- no77 - F-AILN
- no78 - F-AILU
- no79 - F-AILT
- no80 - F-AISN
- no81 - F-AISO
- no82 - F-AIRU
- no84 - F-AITX
- no85 - F-AJBK
Variants
[edit]- Latécoère 32 - original version with Farman 12We engines.[1]
- Latécoère 32-3 - remotorised version with Hispano-Suiza 12Hbr engines.[1]
Operators
[edit]Specifications (Latécoère 32-3)
[edit]Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Capacity: Mail, or up to 4 passengers
- Length: 16.34 m (53 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 28.00 m (91 ft 10 in)
- Height: 6.145 m (20 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 123.0 m2 (1,324 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 5,400 kg (11,904 lb)
- Gross weight: 7,500 kg (16,535 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hbr , 373 kW (500 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 202.5 km/h (126 mph, 109 kn) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 172 km/h (107 mph, 93 kn)
- Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,100 m (13,450 ft) attained in 44 mins
- Rate of climb: 2.87 m/s (565 ft/min) at sea level
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]- Notes
- Bibliography
- Cuny, Jean. “Latécoère - Les Avions et Hydravions”.Paris. Docavia/Editions Lariviere. 1992. ISBN 2-907051-01-6
- Taylor, Michael J.H. . “ Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions. London. 1989. ISBN 0-517-69186-8
External links
[edit]