The GL.2 was a development of the Gourdou-Leseurre Type A which had shown pleasing performance during testing but which had been ultimately rejected by the Aéronautique Militaire due to concerns about the rigidity of the wing. The Type B featured not only a new wing design, now braced by four struts on either side in place of the two per side on the Type A, but also a revised fin and rudder for improved directional stability, and strengthened undercarriage. Twenty examples were delivered in November 1918, designated GL.2C.1 in service, but the end of the war meant a loss of official interest.
Gourdou-Leseurre continued development anyway, and by 1920 had an improved version, designated GL.21 or B2 ready for exhibition at the Paris Salon de l'Aéronautique that year. This differed from the GL.2 mostly in having revised ailerons and a batch of twenty were purchased by the Aéronautique Militaire, with another one being purchased by Finland for evaluation.
Two years later, a further revision of the design appeared as the GL.22 or B3. This featured a redesigned wing of greater span, and modified horizontal stabiliser and landing gear. This proved to be a moderate success for Gourdou-Leseurre, selling 20 to the Aéronautique Maritime as the GL.22C.1, as well as 18 to Finland, 15 to Czechoslovakia, 15 to Estonia, one to Latvia, and Yugoslavia.[1] This was followed by a small series of test aircraft designated GL.23 or B4 before manufacture of the GL.22 resumed in an unarmed version known internally to the company as the B5 and purchased by both the Aéronautique Militaire and Aéronautique Maritime as the GL.22ET.1 for use as an advanced trainer (Ecole de Transition). One of these aircraft was used for trials aboard the aircraft carrier Béarn.
The GL.24 version was produced in small numbers in 1925 for various trial purposes, including one two-seat trainer conversion, and one air ambulance (TS – Transport Sanitaire) exhibited at an international medical conference held in Paris that year.
The GL.2 was also used as a display aircraft, with Gourdou-Leseurre test pilot André Christiany flying one to win the speed trial in the 1923 Coupe Michelin, and two ET.1s painted in the tricolore giving displays throughout France and North Africa the same year. Even well into the 1930s, specialised aerobatic versions were produced as the B6 and B7 for Jérôme Cavalli and Fernand Malinvaud respectively, with a second B7 built for Adrienne Bolland.
Variantsedit
Deck landing of a Gourdou-Leseurre GL 22
B/GL.2 – Initial wartime version (20 built)
B2/GL.21 – G.2 with revised ailerons (21 built). Also known as the GL.21C.1.
B3/GL.22 – New wing, tail, landing gear (71 built). Also known as the GL.22C.1.
B4/GL.23 – Test versions (9 built). Also known as the GL.23C.1.
GL.23TS – Air ambulance version (1 built)Gourdou-Leseurre LGL.23 TS photo from L'Aéronautique December,1926
B5/GL.22ET – Unarmed version of B3. Also known as the ET.
GL.24 – Test versions
GL.24X – Test aircraft to investigate the effects of overloading (1 built)
B6 – Aerobatic version for Jérôme Cavalli with Hispano-Suiza 9Qd engine (1 built)
Yugoslav Royal Air Force – 20 GL.22 bought from France during 1928. Obtained licence for another 20 built by Zmaj during 1929/30, and another 6 built by Zmaj in 1933.[2]
Specifications (GL.22C.1)edit
Gourdou-Leseurre GL.23 3-view drawing from Le Document aéronautique April,1926
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gourdou-Leseurre GL.2.
Cortet, Pierre (January 1995). "Les premiers chasseurs Goudou-Leseurre (1ère partie)" [The First Gourdou-Leseurre Fighters]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (23): 35–37. ISSN 1243-8650.
Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
Hirschauer, Louis; Dollfus, Charles, eds. (1921). L'Année Aéronautique: 1920-1921. Paris: Dunod. p. 11.
Janić, Čedomir; O. Petrović (2011). Short History of Aviation in Serbia. Beograd: Aerokomunikacije. ISBN978-86-913973-2-6.
April 12, 2024
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The Gourdou Leseurre GL 2 originally the Gourdou Leseurre Type B was a French fighter aircraft which made its maiden flight in 1918 Type B GL 2Gourdou Leseurre GL 22 at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland Role FighterManufacturer Gourdou LeseurreFirst flight 1918Primary users French Air Force and NavyFinnish Air Force Czechoslovakian Air Force Estonian Air Force Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications GL 22C 1 5 See also 6 References 7 BibliographyDesign and development editThe GL 2 was a development of the Gourdou Leseurre Type A which had shown pleasing performance during testing but which had been ultimately rejected by the Aeronautique Militaire due to concerns about the rigidity of the wing The Type B featured not only a new wing design now braced by four struts on either side in place of the two per side on the Type A but also a revised fin and rudder for improved directional stability and strengthened undercarriage Twenty examples were delivered in November 1918 designated GL 2C 1 in service but the end of the war meant a loss of official interest Gourdou Leseurre continued development anyway and by 1920 had an improved version designated GL 21 or B2 ready for exhibition at the Paris Salon de l Aeronautique that year This differed from the GL 2 mostly in having revised ailerons and a batch of twenty were purchased by the Aeronautique Militaire with another one being purchased by Finland for evaluation Two years later a further revision of the design appeared as the GL 22 or B3 This featured a redesigned wing of greater span and modified horizontal stabiliser and landing gear This proved to be a moderate success for Gourdou Leseurre selling 20 to the Aeronautique Maritime as the GL 22C 1 as well as 18 to Finland 15 to Czechoslovakia 15 to Estonia one to Latvia and Yugoslavia 1 This was followed by a small series of test aircraft designated GL 23 or B4 before manufacture of the GL 22 resumed in an unarmed version known internally to the company as the B5 and purchased by both the Aeronautique Militaire and Aeronautique Maritime as the GL 22ET 1 for use as an advanced trainer Ecole de Transition One of these aircraft was used for trials aboard the aircraft carrier Bearn The GL 24 version was produced in small numbers in 1925 for various trial purposes including one two seat trainer conversion and one air ambulance TS Transport Sanitaire exhibited at an international medical conference held in Paris that year The GL 2 was also used as a display aircraft with Gourdou Leseurre test pilot Andre Christiany flying one to win the speed trial in the 1923 Coupe Michelin and two ET 1s painted in the tricolore giving displays throughout France and North Africa the same year Even well into the 1930s specialised aerobatic versions were produced as the B6 and B7 for Jerome Cavalli and Fernand Malinvaud respectively with a second B7 built for Adrienne Bolland Variants edit nbsp Deck landing of a Gourdou Leseurre GL 22B GL 2 Initial wartime version 20 built B2 GL 21 G 2 with revised ailerons 21 built Also known as the GL 21C 1 B3 GL 22 New wing tail landing gear 71 built Also known as the GL 22C 1 B4 GL 23 Test versions 9 built Also known as the GL 23C 1 GL 23TS Air ambulance version 1 built nbsp Gourdou Leseurre LGL 23 TS photo from L Aeronautique December 1926 B5 GL 22ET Unarmed version of B3 Also known as the ET GL 24 Test versions GL 24X Test aircraft to investigate the effects of overloading 1 built B6 Aerobatic version for Jerome Cavalli with Hispano Suiza 9Qd engine 1 built B7 Aerobatic version for Fernand Malinvaud and Adrienne Bolland with Lorraine 9Na engine 2 built Operators edit nbsp CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakian Air Force 15 GL 22 nbsp EstoniaEstonian Air Force 15 GL 22 nbsp FinlandFinnish Air Force 1 GL 21 18 GL 22 plus one extra built from spare parts nbsp FranceAeronautique Militaire Aeronautique Maritime nbsp LatviaLatvian Air Force Aizsargi 1 GL 22 nbsp Kingdom of YugoslaviaYugoslav Royal Air Force 20 GL 22 bought from France during 1928 Obtained licence for another 20 built by Zmaj during 1929 30 and another 6 built by Zmaj in 1933 2 Specifications GL 22C 1 edit nbsp Gourdou Leseurre GL 23 3 view drawing from Le Document aeronautique April 1926General characteristics Crew One pilot Length 6 50 m 21 ft 4 in Wingspan 9 40 m 30 ft 10 in Height 2 52 m 8 ft 4 in Wing area 18 4 m2 198 sq ft Empty weight 590 kg 1 800 lb Gross weight 880 kg 1 940 lb Powerplant 1 Hispano Suiza 8Ab 134 kW 180 hp Performance Maximum speed 257 km h 153 mph 133 kn Range 450 km 280 mi 240 nmi Service ceiling 7 500 m 24 600 ft Rate of climb 4 8 m s 940 ft min Armament 2 fixed forward firing 303 Vickers machine gunsSee also editRelated lists List of fighter aircraft List of interwar military aircraft List of military aircraft of Finland List of military aircraft of FranceReferences edit www aviafrance com Gourdou Leseurre GL 22 Gurdu Leser Gourdou Leseurre www paluba info Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gourdou Leseurre GL 2 Cortet Pierre January 1995 Les premiers chasseurs Goudou Leseurre 1ere partie The First Gourdou Leseurre Fighters Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 23 35 37 ISSN 1243 8650 Gerdessen Frederik Estonian Air Power 1918 1945 Air Enthusiast No 18 April July 1982 pp 61 76 ISSN 0143 5450 Hirschauer Louis Dollfus Charles eds 1921 L Annee Aeronautique 1920 1921 Paris Dunod p 11 Janic Cedomir O Petrovic 2011 Short History of Aviation in Serbia Beograd Aerokomunikacije ISBN 978 86 913973 2 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gourdou Leseurre GL 2 amp oldid 1178353364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
