The Latécoère 28 was a successful French long-haul mail plane and passenger airliner of the 1930s. It was the main-stay of Air France's predecessor, Aéropostale in its efforts to establish intercontinental air mail services and support French colonialism and French cultural influence between the wars.[citation needed]
Its pilots included famous poets and French men of letters such as Antoine de Saint Exupéry and Jean Mermoz as well as the usual veterans from World War I.
The Latécoère 28 was a development of the Latécoère 26. It was braced high-wing single-engined monoplane initially powered by a Renault 12Jbr engine. The Latécoère 28 had a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and enclosed cockpit for two crew. The cabin was fitted for eight-passengers with access to a washroom.
A total of about fifty planes of several versions were built between 1927 and 1932. The seaplane version, the Latécoère 28-3, was the first to make a postal delivery crossing of the South Atlantic when Jean Mermoz flew from Dakar to Natal in 21 hours and a half aboard the Comte-de-La Vaulx (prototype n° 919) on 12 May 1930. [1] Unfortunately the plane was lost at sea during the return flight (with no loss of life, nor of mail).
This high-wing single engine plane was first built with Renault engines which were soon replaced by Hispano Suiza 12 giving 500 hp (370 kW). The floatplane version had the Hispano Suiza 12Lbr giving 650 hp (480 kW).
Operational service
The first aircraft were used by Aéropostale on the African mail routes connecting Casablanca and Dakar. The aircraft also inaugurated a Paris-Madrid service. It became famous in South America because of the regular mail service it ensured, from France to Argentina, and further on. With this plane it was possible to send a letter from Paris to Santiago de Chile in what seemed then like an astonishingly short four days. Previously, the mail steamships had taken weeks or months.
It had a very limited military career. Venezuela bought three for use as bombers, and the government of France gave several to the republican side in the Spanish Civil War.
Variants
Laté 28.0
Initial production with a 500 hp (372.85 kW) Renault 12Jbr engine, 17 built (some later converted to 28.1).
Laté 28.1
Further production with a 500 hp (372.85 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Hbxr engine, 29 built.
Laté 28.2
Mail carrier, one built (n°948).
Laté 28.3
Mail carrier float-plane, five built. Three entered service with Air-France under the erroneous designation Latécoère 28.1/H
Laté 28.3/H
A wheeled landing gear version of the 28.3, one built.
^Cuny, Jean (1992). Latécoère (in French). Paris: Éditions Larivière. ISBN2-907051-01-6.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latécoère 28.
(in French) Latécoère 28
March 19, 2023
latécoère, successful, french, long, haul, mail, plane, passenger, airliner, 1930s, main, stay, france, predecessor, aéropostale, efforts, establish, intercontinental, mail, services, support, french, colonialism, french, cultural, influence, between, wars, ci. The Latecoere 28 was a successful French long haul mail plane and passenger airliner of the 1930s It was the main stay of Air France s predecessor Aeropostale in its efforts to establish intercontinental air mail services and support French colonialism and French cultural influence between the wars citation needed Latecoere 28Three view drawings of Latecoere 28Role Eight passenger monoplaneManufacturer Forges et Ateliers de Construction LatecoereFirst flight 1927Primary user AeropostaleDeveloped from Latecoere 26Its pilots included famous poets and French men of letters such as Antoine de Saint Exupery and Jean Mermoz as well as the usual veterans from World War I Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational service 3 Variants 4 Operators 4 1 Civil 4 2 Military 5 Specifications Latecoere 28 0 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign and development Edit Late 28 photo from NACA Aircraft Circular No 112 The Latecoere 28 was a development of the Latecoere 26 It was braced high wing single engined monoplane initially powered by a Renault 12Jbr engine The Latecoere 28 had a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and enclosed cockpit for two crew The cabin was fitted for eight passengers with access to a washroom A total of about fifty planes of several versions were built between 1927 and 1932 The seaplane version the Latecoere 28 3 was the first to make a postal delivery crossing of the South Atlantic when Jean Mermoz flew from Dakar to Natal in 21 hours and a half aboard the Comte de La Vaulx prototype n 919 on 12 May 1930 1 Unfortunately the plane was lost at sea during the return flight with no loss of life nor of mail This high wing single engine plane was first built with Renault engines which were soon replaced by Hispano Suiza 12 giving 500 hp 370 kW The floatplane version had the Hispano Suiza 12Lbr giving 650 hp 480 kW Operational service EditThe first aircraft were used by Aeropostale on the African mail routes connecting Casablanca and Dakar The aircraft also inaugurated a Paris Madrid service It became famous in South America because of the regular mail service it ensured from France to Argentina and further on With this plane it was possible to send a letter from Paris to Santiago de Chile in what seemed then like an astonishingly short four days Previously the mail steamships had taken weeks or months It had a very limited military career Venezuela bought three for use as bombers and the government of France gave several to the republican side in the Spanish Civil War Variants EditLate 28 0 Initial production with a 500 hp 372 85 kW Renault 12Jbr engine 17 built some later converted to 28 1 Late 28 1 Further production with a 500 hp 372 85 kW Hispano Suiza 12Hbxr engine 29 built Late 28 2 Mail carrier one built n 948 Late 28 3 Mail carrier float plane five built Three entered service with Air France under the erroneous designation Latecoere 28 1 H Late 28 3 H A wheeled landing gear version of the 28 3 one built Late 28 3 I A passenger version of the 28 3 powered by a 700 hp 521 99 kW Gnome et Rhone 14Kb Mistral Major radial engine one built Late 28 4 I A development of the 28 3 with a 650 hp 484 70 kW Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engine one built Late 28 5 Structurally strengthened version with a 650 hp 484 70 kW Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engine Late 28 6 For Venezuela powered by a 650 hp 484 70 kW Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engine three built Late 28 8 One 28 0 modified with an enlarged wingspan Late 28 9 Three seat landplane bomber for Venezuela three built Operators EditCivil Edit ArgentinaAeropostala Argentina FranceAeropostale Air France VenezuelaAviacon Aeropostal Venezolana Linea Aeropostal VenezolanaMilitary Edit Spanish RepublicSpanish Republican Air Force VenezuelaVenezuelan Air ForceSpecifications Latecoere 28 0 EditData from Latecoere 1 page needed General characteristicsCrew 2 Capacity Payload 925kg 2 039lb or 8 passengers Length 13 625 m 44 ft 8 in Wingspan 19 25 m 63 ft 2 in Height 3 58 m 11 ft 9 in Wing area 48 6 m2 523 sq ft Empty weight 2 166 kg 4 775 lb Gross weight 3 856 kg 8 501 lb Powerplant 1 Renault 12Jb V 12 liquid cooled piston engine 373 kW 500 hp Performance Maximum speed 222 km h 138 mph 120 kn at sea level Cruise speed 200 km h 120 mph 110 kn Range 4 685 km 2 911 mi 2 530 nmi Service ceiling 5 200 m 17 100 ft Rate of climb 2 04 m s 402 ft min Time to altitude 4 000m in 59min 38sSee also EditRelated development Late 26 Late 29 Late 35Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Focke Wulf A 17 Fokker F VII Kalinin K 5 Nieuport Delage NiD 540Related lists List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force List of interwar military aircraftReferences Edit Cuny Jean 1992 Latecoere in French Paris Editions Lariviere ISBN 2 907051 01 6 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latecoere 28 in French Latecoere 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latecoere 28 amp oldid 1029636822, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
