Let Let Let – Warplanes

In 1935 six machines: c/n 4 F-ANPA Ville d’Oran
c/n 5 F-ANPB Ville de Bône
c/n 6 F-ANPC Ville de Marseille
c/n 7 F-ANPD Ville d’Ajaccio
c/n 8 F-ANPE Ville de Tripoli
c/n 3 F-ANPC Ville de Beyrouth
In 1936 four machines: c/n 9 F-ANQF Ville de Toulon
c/n 10 F-ANQG Ville de Nice
c/n 11 F-ANQH Ville de Cannes
c/n 12 F-ANQI Ville de Bizerte
In 1937 2 last machines: c/n 13 F-ADKJ Ville de Casablanca
c/n 14 F- ADKK Ville de Rabat

The H.242′s were extensively used by Air France on the routes Marseilles-Alcudia-Algiers; Marseille-Ajaccio-Tunis and Marseille-Athens-Tripoli-Beirut until the remaining machines were taken over by the Luftwaffe in 1942. They flew in general some 70 to 80 hours a month and some aircraft must have flown more than 2000 hours. The Germans seem to have handed over the H.242′s to Italy where they must have flown with military markings and red upper wing surfaces. None of them survived the war.

Technical details (LeO H.242):

Power plants: four Gnome Rhone 7KD 7-cilinder Titan Major radial air-cooled engines of 350 hp each
Dimensions: wingspan 28.00 m
length 18.45 m
height 6.77 m
wing area 116.25 m2
Weights: empty 5888 kg
all-up loaded 8400 kg
Performances: max. speed 250 km/h at 2300 m
range 975 km
service ceiling 3500 m
Equipment: accommodation for up to 10 passengers

Loire L.130

In 1933 the Loire works designed a small single engine flying boat that could be catapulted from a warship for observation and communication purposes. Designated as Loire 130 it was a flying boat with a metal hull and shoulder placed metal wings covered with fabric. The engine was placed on struts on top opf the fuselage centre driving a pusher propeller. The first flight with the Loire 130 prototype was made on 19 November 1934. After a number of comparative trials with flying boats built according the same specifications by other companies, the Loire 130 was selected for mass production. In total 124 were ordered; 112 for the Aéronavale and another 12 for use by the French army in the overseas colonies. The Aéronavale machines we designated as 130M (Métropole); the army machines received the type designation 130C (Colonial). For use in tropical regions, the 130C had an enlarged radiator in front of the engine. Production started over the last years before the outbreak of the war and all Loire 130′s were operational at the beginning of the Second World War at various units. A number was used on the seaplane carrier Commandant Teste, while others were based on the battleships Dunkerque and Strasbourg. Also the trainer cruiser Jeanne d’Arc had a number of Loire 130′s on board

After November 1942, all catapults were removed from the warships to make place for additional anti-aircraft guns and the role of the Loire 130 was changed into that of coastal patrol.

Some Loire 130′s even survived the war and were used operationally until the late fourties! One Loire 130 was confiscated by the Germans to test its suitability for use by German forces.

It was ferried in Luftwaffe markings BI # XA from St. Nazaire to Travemünde by Uffz. Helmut Steckel. The ferrying took place between 17 March 1941 and 10 April 1941, covering the route St. Nazaire-Brest South- Boulogne-Amsterdam-Travemünde. On 15 July 1941 it was test-flown at E-Stelle Travemünde by Flugkapt. Mlodoch. It was also test-flown by Leut. Paul Metges but because of quick overheating of the engine during taxiing, it was found to be unsuitable. The exact identity of this Loire 130 is not known, but most likely it was a machine taken over from the St. Nazaire repair works.

Technical details:

Power plant: Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs 12 cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engine of 720 hp
Dimensions: wingspan 16.00 m
length 11.30 m
height 3.85 m
wing area 40.1 m2
Weights: empty 2090 kg
all-up loaded 3369 kg
Performances: max. speed 220 km/h at 2100 m
range 1100 km
service ceiling 6000 m
Equipment: two Darne 7.5 mm machine guns and provision for two bombs of 75 kg.
Accommodation for 3 passengers.

Related posts:

1. Dutch flying boats and amphibians
2. German flying boats Part 1: 1914-1935
3. German flying boats Part 2: 1935-2000
4. Vanneau history
5. Dornier Do-28 amphibian for the MLD

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12