The Latécoère 300 series of aircraft were a group of civil and military flying boats. They were manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Latécoère in the 1930s. A single Latécoère 300 was built; it was flown for the first time in 1931 and sank the same year. It was rebuilt and flown again in 1932, being named Croix du Sud ("Southern Cross").[1]
Latécoère 300
Seaplane Latécoère 300, Natal, Brazil, 31 July 1934
The 300 was a monoplane of parasol wing construction. It was powered by four engines, each of which produced 650 hp,[1] arranged in two push-pull pairs. The 300 set an international aviation record for seaplanes on 31 December 1933, by flying 3,697 kilometers (2,297 mi) non-stop between Berre Lake near Marseille and Saint-Louis, Senegal.[1][2] The aircraft then entered service for Air France, transporting mail across the Atlantic Ocean from Dakar, Senegal to Natal, Brazil.[3] It completed 23 missions before being lost at sea on December 7, 1936.[1] The pilot was the famous French aviator Jean Mermoz.
The civilian Laté 301, and military Laté 302 were based on the 300, with some design improvements. A total of three aircraft of each type were built between 1935 and 1936.[1] The first of the 301s was lost, the remaining two were used in South Atlantic service until 1939. In 1939 the last remaining 301 was converted to military service, joining the 302s in patrol duties in West Africa.[1]
Original Laté 302 aircraft had 930-hp engines, bow, beam, and engine nacelle machine gun ports, and a bomb load of 300 kilograms (660 lb). The aircraft supported a crew of four and included sleeping accommodations. Fuel and payload were stored inside the hull.[1] The 302s and converted 301 were in service at the start of World War II, and continued in military service, flying patrols from Dakar until retired due to lack of spare parts, the last aircraft being grounded at the end of 1941.[1][2]
Variantsedit
The flying-boat Croix-du-Sud, commanded by Captain Bonnot, arriving on 1 September 1934 at Natal. The sacks of mail, as soon as are they are taken from the hull, will continue their flight on aircraft of Air France.
^ abcdefghTaylor, Michael J.H., ed. " Latécoère 300 Series ." Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. New York: Crescent, 1993. p. 566 . ISBN0 517 10316 8.
^ abcGreen, William (1968). Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats. London: Macdonald. pp. 22–24. ISBN0-356-01449-5.
^Allaz, Camille (2005). The History of Air Cargo and Airmail from the 18th Century. London: Christopher Foyle Publishing. pp. 80–81. ISBN0-9548896-0-6.
Bibliographyedit
Borget, Michel (May 1971). "Premier des Latécoère géants (1): La "Croix du Sud"". Le album de fanatique de l'Aviation (in French). No. 22. pp. 20–25.
Borget, Michel (June 1971). "Premier des Latécoère géants (2): La "Croix du Sud"". Le album de fanatique de l'Aviation (in French). No. 23. pp. 18–21.
Borget, Michel (July 1971). "La "Croix du Sud" et les Laté 301" [The "Southern Cross" and the Laté 301]. Le album de fanatique de l'Aviation (in French). No. 24. pp. 20–24. ISSN 0757-4169.
Borget, Michel (September 1971). ""Croix du Sud" et les Laté 301, le drame (4)". Le album de fanatique de l'Aviation (in French). No. 25. pp. 22–26.
Bousquet, Gérard (2013). French Flying Boats of WW II. Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus. ISBN978-83-63678-06-7.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latécoère 300.
January 01, 1970
latécoère, series, aircraft, were, group, civil, military, flying, boats, they, were, manufactured, french, aircraft, manufacturer, latécoère, 1930s, single, built, flown, first, time, 1931, sank, same, year, rebuilt, flown, again, 1932, being, named, croix, s. The Latecoere 300 series of aircraft were a group of civil and military flying boats They were manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Latecoere in the 1930s A single Latecoere 300 was built it was flown for the first time in 1931 and sank the same year It was rebuilt and flown again in 1932 being named Croix du Sud Southern Cross 1 Latecoere 300 Seaplane Latecoere 300 Natal Brazil 31 July 1934 Role Civil and military flying boat National origin France Manufacturer Latecoere First flight 17 December 1931 Introduction 1932 Primary users Air FranceFrench Military Number built 7 Contents 1 Description 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications Late 302 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksDescription editThe 300 was a monoplane of parasol wing construction It was powered by four engines each of which produced 650 hp 1 arranged in two push pull pairs The 300 set an international aviation record for seaplanes on 31 December 1933 by flying 3 697 kilometers 2 297 mi non stop between Berre Lake near Marseille and Saint Louis Senegal 1 2 The aircraft then entered service for Air France transporting mail across the Atlantic Ocean from Dakar Senegal to Natal Brazil 3 It completed 23 missions before being lost at sea on December 7 1936 1 The pilot was the famous French aviator Jean Mermoz The civilian Late 301 and military Late 302 were based on the 300 with some design improvements A total of three aircraft of each type were built between 1935 and 1936 1 The first of the 301s was lost the remaining two were used in South Atlantic service until 1939 In 1939 the last remaining 301 was converted to military service joining the 302s in patrol duties in West Africa 1 Original Late 302 aircraft had 930 hp engines bow beam and engine nacelle machine gun ports and a bomb load of 300 kilograms 660 lb The aircraft supported a crew of four and included sleeping accommodations Fuel and payload were stored inside the hull 1 The 302s and converted 301 were in service at the start of World War II and continued in military service flying patrols from Dakar until retired due to lack of spare parts the last aircraft being grounded at the end of 1941 1 2 Variants edit nbsp The flying boat Croix du Sud commanded by Captain Bonnot arriving on 1 September 1934 at Natal The sacks of mail as soon as are they are taken from the hull will continue their flight on aircraft of Air France Late 300 Mailplane with Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engines one built Late 301 Mailplane with Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engines three built Late 302 Maritime reconnaissance aircraft with Hispano Suiza 12Ydrs engines three built Operators edit nbsp France Air France French NavySpecifications Late 302 edit nbsp Latecoere 300 3 view drawing from L Aerophile April 1932 Data from Warplanes of the Second World War Volume Five Flying Boats 2 General characteristicsCrew 8 Length 26 149 m 85 ft 9 1 2 in Wingspan 43 999 m 144 ft 4 1 4 in Height 7 979 m 26 ft 2 1 8 in Wing area 256 0 m2 2 756 sq ft Empty weight 14 310 kg 31 548 lb Gross weight 24 000 kg 52 911 lb Powerplant 4 Hispano Suiza 12Ydrs2 liquid cooled V12 engines 690 kW 930 hp each Performance Maximum speed 240 km h 149 mph 129 kn at 2 000 m 6 560 ft Cruise speed 185 km h 115 mph 100 kn at 810 m 2 650 ft Range 3 300 km 2 050 mi 1 780 nmi Endurance 23 hr at 150 km h 93 mph Service ceiling 5 000 m 16 400 ft Time to altitude 12 5 min to 1 000 m 3 280 ft Armament Guns 1 7 5 mm 0 3 in Darne machine gun in bow 2 firing through beam windows Bombs 4 x 75 kg 165 lb bombsSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Blackburn Sydney Consolidated P2Y Consolidated PBY Catalina Dornier Do 24 Dornier Do 26 Kawanishi H6K Potez CAMS 141 Related lists List of aircraft of World War II List of Interwar military aircraft List of flying boats and floatplanesReferences edit a b c d e f g h Taylor Michael J H ed Latecoere 300 Series Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation New York Crescent 1993 p 566 ISBN 0 517 10316 8 a b c Green William 1968 Warplanes of the Second World War Volume Five Flying Boats London Macdonald pp 22 24 ISBN 0 356 01449 5 Allaz Camille 2005 The History of Air Cargo and Airmail from the 18th Century London Christopher Foyle Publishing pp 80 81 ISBN 0 9548896 0 6 Bibliography editBorget Michel May 1971 Premier des Latecoere geants 1 La Croix du Sud Le album de fanatique de l Aviation in French No 22 pp 20 25 Borget Michel June 1971 Premier des Latecoere geants 2 La Croix du Sud Le album de fanatique de l Aviation in French No 23 pp 18 21 Borget Michel July 1971 La Croix du Sud et les Late 301 The Southern Cross and the Late 301 Le album de fanatique de l Aviation in French No 24 pp 20 24 ISSN 0757 4169 Borget Michel September 1971 Croix du Sud et les Late 301 le drame 4 Le album de fanatique de l Aviation in French No 25 pp 22 26 Bousquet Gerard 2013 French Flying Boats of WW II Sandomierz Poland Stratus ISBN 978 83 63678 06 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latecoere 300 Latecoere 302 Specifications and photo Seaplanes and flying boats of the French Naval Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latecoere 300 amp oldid 1147087058, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
