The Gourdou-Leseurre GL.30 was a racing aircraft built in France in 1920 which formed the basis for a highly successful family of fighter aircraft based on the same design.
The GL-30 was a parasol-wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage and a Bristol Jupiter engine. Like most of Gordou-Lesserre's earlier aircraft, it was a parasol wing design but its planform was trapezoidal rather than rectangular. In 1923 it flew the Coupe Beaumont course at an impressive 360 km/h (220 mph; 190 kn). The GL.30 was the basis of a new fighter, the GL.31, which had a greater span, almost double the wing area, a fixed undercarriage, and a Gnome-Rhône 9A engine. It was armed with four machine guns, two in the forward fuselage and two in the wings. The GL. 31 was not flown until 1926 and then abandoned, overtaken by the GL.32, the company's entry in a 1923 Aéronautique Militaire competition to select a new fighter. It returned to a rectangular plan wing.
Operational history
By the time this prototype flew, the Gourdou-Leseurre had been acquired by Loire, and therefore the new aircraft was entered as the LGL.32. Placed second in the trials, the type's performance was impressive enough to still result in an order in January 1927 for a small batch of aircraft - five evaluation aircraft and 20 preproduction machines. Eventually, 475 of this basic version, dubbed LGL.32C.1 in service, would be ordered by the Aéronautique Militaire and 15 more by the Aéronautique Maritime. Romania ordered a further 50 aircraft of the same design as the examples in French service, Turkey ordered 12 (these designated LGL.32-T) and another one may have been purchased by Japan.
In French service, development turned from fighters to adapting the aircraft as a carrier-borne dive bomber. These featured general strengthening of the airframe, divided main undercarriage units, and a "fork" under the fuselage able to release a 50 kg (110 lb) bomb from under the fuselage while avoiding hitting the propeller.
While prolific, the GL.32 was not long-lasting, and attrition took a heavy toll on them. By 1934, all remaining examples were relegated to training and as instructional airframes; at the start of 1936, only 135 remained of the original 380 purchased. A number of these were sold to the government of the Second Spanish Republic and to the autonomous Basque Government. Another aircraft was supplied to the Basques in 1937, modified as a dive bomber along the lines of the previous French experiments. Designated the GL.633, this aircraft was used by Miguel Zambudio to attack the Nationalist battleship España, scoring decisive hits that contributed substantially to her subsequent sinking.
Variants
GL.30
GL.30 - Racer with retractable undercarriage and Bristol Jupiter engine (one built)
GL.31 - Four-gun fighter prototype with fixed undercarriage, longer-span wings and Gnome-Rhône 9A engine (one built). Also known as the GL.31C.1 or CL-I-3.
LGL.32 - Definitive two-gun fighter version (ca. 490 built). Also known as the GL.32C.1.
LGL.32.01 - The first prototype.
LGL.32T - Export version for Turkey (12 built)
LGL 32 Hy photo from Aero Digest May 1927
LGL.32 Hy - Twin-pontoon floatplane version converted from LGL.32 prototype. Set world seaplane altitude record on 28 March 1927 (one converted)
LGL.321 - LGL.32 converted to use 450 kW (600 hp) version of the Gnome & Rhône 9Ac (one converted)
LGL.323 - LGL.32 converted to use supercharged 373 kW (600 hp) Bristol Jupiter for unsuccessful altitude record attempts. (one converted)
LGL.324 - LGL.323 further modified and used by Pierre Lemoigne to set world landplane altitude record with 500 kg payload of 9,600 m (31,500 ft) on 23 May 1929 and Albert Lécrivain to set world landplane altitude record of 11,000 m (39,090 ft) on 24 October. (one converted)
Gourdou-Leseurre LGL.33 C.1 photo from L'Aéronautique December,1926
LGL.33 - Similar to LGL.32 but with Lorraine 12Eb engine, and revised wing struts, landing gear, and tail (one built). Also known as the LGL.33C.1.
LGL.34 - Similar to LGL.32 but with Hispano-Suiza 12Gb engine (one built). Also known as the LGL.34C.1.
LGL.341 - similar to LGL.32 with Hispano-Suiza 12Hb engine (two built, second with revised radiator arrangement)
LGL.35
LGL.351 - version with Renault 12J engine (one built)
LGL.390 - night fighter prototype with Hispano-Suiza 9Va engine (one converted from LGL.32)
GL.40
GL.410 - modernised fighter with divided main undercarriage (one built)
Guns: 2x synchronised forward firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers or Darne machine-guns in the fuselage with 2x un-synchronised 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Darne machine-guns in the wings firing outside the propeller disc.
^Los aviones Gourdou-Leseurre republicanos del Frente Norte 2012-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
^Grey, C.G., ed. (1928). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. p. 109c.
Bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gourdou-Leseurre LGL.32.
Bruner, Georges (1977). "Fighters a la Francaise, Part One". Air Enthusiast (3): 85–95. ISSN 0143-5450.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 429–30.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 895 Sheets 10–11.
April 23, 2023
gourdou, leseurre, racing, aircraft, built, france, 1920, which, formed, basis, highly, successful, family, fighter, aircraft, based, same, design, 30gourdou, leseurre, role, fighternational, origin, francemanufacturer, gourdou, leseurrefirst, flight, 1920prim. The Gourdou Leseurre GL 30 was a racing aircraft built in France in 1920 which formed the basis for a highly successful family of fighter aircraft based on the same design GL 30Gourdou Leseurre GL 32 LGL 32 Role FighterNational origin FranceManufacturer Gourdou LeseurreFirst flight 1920Primary users Aeronautique MilitaireAeronautique MaritimeNumber built gt 500 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 3 1 GL 30 3 2 GL 40 3 3 GL 520 3 4 GL 60 4 Operators 5 Specifications LGL 32 C 1 Jupiter VIII engine 6 See also 7 References 8 BibliographyDevelopment EditThe GL 30 was a parasol wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage and a Bristol Jupiter engine Like most of Gordou Lesserre s earlier aircraft it was a parasol wing design but its planform was trapezoidal rather than rectangular In 1923 it flew the Coupe Beaumont course at an impressive 360 km h 220 mph 190 kn The GL 30 was the basis of a new fighter the GL 31 which had a greater span almost double the wing area a fixed undercarriage and a Gnome Rhone 9A engine It was armed with four machine guns two in the forward fuselage and two in the wings The GL 31 was not flown until 1926 and then abandoned overtaken by the GL 32 the company s entry in a 1923 Aeronautique Militaire competition to select a new fighter It returned to a rectangular plan wing Operational history EditBy the time this prototype flew the Gourdou Leseurre had been acquired by Loire and therefore the new aircraft was entered as the LGL 32 Placed second in the trials the type s performance was impressive enough to still result in an order in January 1927 for a small batch of aircraft five evaluation aircraft and 20 preproduction machines Eventually 475 of this basic version dubbed LGL 32C 1 in service would be ordered by the Aeronautique Militaire and 15 more by the Aeronautique Maritime Romania ordered a further 50 aircraft of the same design as the examples in French service Turkey ordered 12 these designated LGL 32 T and another one may have been purchased by Japan In French service development turned from fighters to adapting the aircraft as a carrier borne dive bomber These featured general strengthening of the airframe divided main undercarriage units and a fork under the fuselage able to release a 50 kg 110 lb bomb from under the fuselage while avoiding hitting the propeller While prolific the GL 32 was not long lasting and attrition took a heavy toll on them By 1934 all remaining examples were relegated to training and as instructional airframes at the start of 1936 only 135 remained of the original 380 purchased A number of these were sold to the government of the Second Spanish Republic and to the autonomous Basque Government Another aircraft was supplied to the Basques in 1937 modified as a dive bomber along the lines of the previous French experiments Designated the GL 633 this aircraft was used by Miguel Zambudio to attack the Nationalist battleship Espana scoring decisive hits that contributed substantially to her subsequent sinking Variants EditGL 30 Edit GL 30 Racer with retractable undercarriage and Bristol Jupiter engine one built GL 31 Four gun fighter prototype with fixed undercarriage longer span wings and Gnome Rhone 9A engine one built Also known as the GL 31C 1 or CL I 3 LGL 32 Definitive two gun fighter version ca 490 built Also known as the GL 32C 1 LGL 32 01 The first prototype LGL 32T Export version for Turkey 12 built LGL 32 Hy photo from Aero Digest May 1927 LGL 32 Hy Twin pontoon floatplane version converted from LGL 32 prototype Set world seaplane altitude record on 28 March 1927 one converted LGL 321 LGL 32 converted to use 450 kW 600 hp version of the Gnome amp Rhone 9Ac one converted LGL 323 LGL 32 converted to use supercharged 373 kW 600 hp Bristol Jupiter for unsuccessful altitude record attempts one converted LGL 324 LGL 323 further modified and used by Pierre Lemoigne to set world landplane altitude record with 500 kg payload of 9 600 m 31 500 ft on 23 May 1929 and Albert Lecrivain to set world landplane altitude record of 11 000 m 39 090 ft on 24 October one converted Gourdou Leseurre LGL 33 C 1 photo from L Aeronautique December 1926LGL 33 Similar to LGL 32 but with Lorraine 12Eb engine and revised wing struts landing gear and tail one built Also known as the LGL 33C 1 LGL 34 Similar to LGL 32 but with Hispano Suiza 12Gb engine one built Also known as the LGL 34C 1 LGL 341 similar to LGL 32 with Hispano Suiza 12Hb engine two built second with revised radiator arrangement LGL 35 LGL 351 version with Renault 12J engine one built LGL 390 night fighter prototype with Hispano Suiza 9Va engine one converted from LGL 32 GL 40 Edit GL 410 modernised fighter with divided main undercarriage one built GL 430 strengthened carrier borne dive bomber prototype one built GL 432 dive bomber variant similar to GL 430 used for operational testing four built GL 450 fighter version GL 480 GL 482 fighter version with Hispano Suiza 12Xbrs engine one built GL 520 Edit GL 520 GL 521 dive bomber version with Gnome Rhone 9Kfr engine and taller tail fin two built GL 60 Edit GL 630 GL 633 dive bomber similar to GL 432 one built Operators Edit FranceFrench Air Force French Navy BoliviaFuerza Aerea Boliviana Gourdou Leseurre LGL 32 C 1 only one used in the Chaco War RomaniaRoyal Romanian Air Force Spain Gourdou Leseurre GL 32 Spanish Republican AF Spanish Republican Air Force GL 32 1 TurkeyTurkish Air ForceSpecifications LGL 32 C 1 Jupiter VIII engine EditData from Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 2 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 7 55 m 24 ft 9 in Wingspan 12 2 m 40 ft 0 in Height 2 95 m 9 ft 8 in Wing area 24 9 m2 268 sq ft Empty weight 963 kg 2 123 lb Gross weight 1 376 kg 3 034 lb Fuel capacity 285 kg 628 lb ca 200 L 53 US gal 44 imp gal Powerplant 1 Gnome et Rhone 9A Jupiter VIII 9 cyliner air cooled radial piston engine 450 kW 600 hp Propellers 2 bladed wooden fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 270 km h 170 mph 150 kn at sea level260 km h 160 mph 140 kn at 3 000 m 9 800 ft 251 km h 156 mph 136 kn at 5 000 m 16 000 ft 215 km h 134 mph 116 kn at 8 000 m 26 000 ft dd dd dd dd dd Landing speed 90 km h 56 mph 49 kn Range 500 km 310 mi 270 nmi Service ceiling 9 700 m 31 800 ft Time to altitude 2 000 m 6 600 ft in 3 minutes 5 seconds 5 000 m 16 000 ft in 11 minutes 8 000 m 26 000 ft in 31 minutes Wing loading 54 8 kg m2 11 2 lb sq ft Power mass 0 33 kW kg 0 2 hp lb Armament Guns 2x synchronised forward firing 7 7 mm 0 303 in Vickers or Darne machine guns in the fuselage with 2x un synchronised 7 7 mm 0 303 in Darne machine guns in the wings firing outside the propeller disc See also EditRelated lists List of Interwar military aircraft List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air ForceReferences Edit Los aviones Gourdou Leseurre republicanos del Frente Norte Archived 2012 06 21 at the Wayback Machine Grey C G ed 1928 Jane s all the World s Aircraft 1928 London Sampson Low Marston amp company ltd p 109c Bibliography Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gourdou Leseurre LGL 32 Bruner Georges 1977 Fighters a la Francaise Part One Air Enthusiast 3 85 95 ISSN 0143 5450 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions pp 429 30 World Aircraft Information Files London Bright Star Publishing pp File 895 Sheets 10 11 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gourdou Leseurre GL 30 amp oldid 1126114829, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
