The Latécoère 500 was developed during the early 1930s specifically for use on the transatlanticmail route to South America. The design process drew upon multiple aspects of the company's previous flying boats; specifically, the shaping of the hull was derived from both the Latécoère 340 and the Latécoère 380.[1] The resulting aircraft was a large parasol-wing monoplane equipped with broad sponsons and a fully enclosed cabin. Three engines were installed on the wing, two tractor-fashion on the leading edge, and one pusher-fashion on the trailing edge.
In response to a specification issued by the French aviation ministry, Latécoère also produced a passenger-carrying variant, the Latécoère 501, which actually flew first. However, flight testing revealed that the 500 possessed poor flying qualities, and thus was not accepted for service and soon after scrapped. The Latécoère 501 was operated for a while on passenger routes across the Mediterranean.
Designedit
The Latécoère 500 is a large sesquiplane flying boat. Both the structure and the hull itself were composed of metal, primarily duralumin.[2] It had a twin-step hull, the forward one being intended to benefit the aircraft's take-off performance while the rear step improved its landing characteristics. This hull featured a distinctive sharp stern, a curved V-shaped bottom, and a pair of symmetrical planing fins that ensured transverse stability on the water as well as accommodated fuel; the internal volume of the planing fins was divided by a transverse bulkhead as to provide an individual fuel supply for each engine.[2]
Navigator's position of a Latécoère 500
The central hull of the flying boat was divided into four watertight compartments, these being the pilot's station, the main passenger cabin, the baggage hold, and a second hold intended for mail.[1] The pilot's station was fully enclosed and was typically operated by a crew of three, the pilot being seated on the left while stations provisioned with instrumentation and apparatus for the radio operator and navigator were located on the right. While on the water, personnel could climb out onto the deck via a hatch in the pilot's station.[3] The cabin, which could comfortably seat up to eight passengers and adorned by eight relatively large portholes, was accessed via a passage that separated the cabin from the lavatory. In addition to the mail itself, a bilge pump and various tools for the mechanic were also present in the mail compartment.[4]
The wing of the Latécoère 500 is of a relatively conventional twin-spar design, being cross-braced by a combination of alloy tubing and high-tensile steel wires.[2] While the central section of the wing was composed of metal, the majority of the wing and tail surfaces were composed of fabric. Both the rudder and elevator were balanced using compact metal ailerons that were adjustable in flight.[5] The stresses incurred by the wing struts were transferred to the spar via steel fittings that were treated to be rustproof, while continuous I-section stringers transferred the skin stresses to the transverse frames. The box spars featured lightened webs and multiple flanges.[2] The tail surfaces was of typical braced monoplane design, the structure of which used tubular spars, truss-type ribs, and lightened webs.[6]
The Latécoère 500 was powered by a total of three Hispano-Suiza 12Jb engines, which combined were capable of generating up to 1,200 hp; this provided sufficient power that the takeoff run could still be completed successfully even in the event of a single engine failure.[1] The central engine was fitted in a Pusher configuration while the other two used a tractor configuration instead. All three engine were mounted on the wing via tubular struts and cross-based between the two wing spars via tubes and steel wires. An individual fuel system was used for each engine; an auxiliary hand pump could supply fuel to any or all of the engines if so required.[1] Cooling was provided via three Chaussonradiators, one mounted directly beneath each engine. The oil tanks were located within the engine nacelles.[1] The British manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company supplied the engine starter system, it also powered the onboard radio set.[3]
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 564.
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April 27, 2024
latécoère, flying, boat, designed, produced, french, aircraft, manufacturer, latécoère, latécoère, role, flying, boat, mail, plane, national, origin, france, manufacturer, latécoère, first, flight, february, 1932, status, retired, number, built, developed, dur. The Latecoere 500 was a flying boat designed and produced by the French aircraft manufacturer Latecoere Latecoere 500 Latecoere 501 Role Flying boat mail plane National origin France Manufacturer Latecoere First flight 24 February 1932 Status Retired Number built 2 The Latecoere 500 was developed during the early 1930s specifically for use on the transatlantic mail route to South America The design process drew upon multiple aspects of the company s previous flying boats specifically the shaping of the hull was derived from both the Latecoere 340 and the Latecoere 380 1 The resulting aircraft was a large parasol wing monoplane equipped with broad sponsons and a fully enclosed cabin Three engines were installed on the wing two tractor fashion on the leading edge and one pusher fashion on the trailing edge In response to a specification issued by the French aviation ministry Latecoere also produced a passenger carrying variant the Latecoere 501 which actually flew first However flight testing revealed that the 500 possessed poor flying qualities and thus was not accepted for service and soon after scrapped The Latecoere 501 was operated for a while on passenger routes across the Mediterranean Design editThe Latecoere 500 is a large sesquiplane flying boat Both the structure and the hull itself were composed of metal primarily duralumin 2 It had a twin step hull the forward one being intended to benefit the aircraft s take off performance while the rear step improved its landing characteristics This hull featured a distinctive sharp stern a curved V shaped bottom and a pair of symmetrical planing fins that ensured transverse stability on the water as well as accommodated fuel the internal volume of the planing fins was divided by a transverse bulkhead as to provide an individual fuel supply for each engine 2 nbsp Navigator s position of a Latecoere 500 The central hull of the flying boat was divided into four watertight compartments these being the pilot s station the main passenger cabin the baggage hold and a second hold intended for mail 1 The pilot s station was fully enclosed and was typically operated by a crew of three the pilot being seated on the left while stations provisioned with instrumentation and apparatus for the radio operator and navigator were located on the right While on the water personnel could climb out onto the deck via a hatch in the pilot s station 3 The cabin which could comfortably seat up to eight passengers and adorned by eight relatively large portholes was accessed via a passage that separated the cabin from the lavatory In addition to the mail itself a bilge pump and various tools for the mechanic were also present in the mail compartment 4 The wing of the Latecoere 500 is of a relatively conventional twin spar design being cross braced by a combination of alloy tubing and high tensile steel wires 2 While the central section of the wing was composed of metal the majority of the wing and tail surfaces were composed of fabric Both the rudder and elevator were balanced using compact metal ailerons that were adjustable in flight 5 The stresses incurred by the wing struts were transferred to the spar via steel fittings that were treated to be rustproof while continuous I section stringers transferred the skin stresses to the transverse frames The box spars featured lightened webs and multiple flanges 2 The tail surfaces was of typical braced monoplane design the structure of which used tubular spars truss type ribs and lightened webs 6 The Latecoere 500 was powered by a total of three Hispano Suiza 12Jb engines which combined were capable of generating up to 1 200 hp this provided sufficient power that the takeoff run could still be completed successfully even in the event of a single engine failure 1 The central engine was fitted in a Pusher configuration while the other two used a tractor configuration instead All three engine were mounted on the wing via tubular struts and cross based between the two wing spars via tubes and steel wires An individual fuel system was used for each engine an auxiliary hand pump could supply fuel to any or all of the engines if so required 1 Cooling was provided via three Chausson radiators one mounted directly beneath each engine The oil tanks were located within the engine nacelles 1 The British manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company supplied the engine starter system it also powered the onboard radio set 3 Variants editLatecoere 500 mailplane version 1 built Latecoere 501 airliner version 1 built Specifications Late 500 edit nbsp Latecoere 501 3 view drawing from NACA AC 170 Data from N A C A 7 General characteristicsCrew Three Length 17 74 m 58 ft 2 in Wingspan 31 40 m 103 ft 0 in Height 4 93 m 16 ft 2 in Wing area 148 3 m2 1 600 sq ft Empty weight 4 446 kg 9 802 lb Gross weight 9 816 kg 21 641 lb Powerplant 3 Hispano Suiza 12Jb 300 kW 400 hp each Performance Maximum speed 210 km h 130 mph 110 kn Range 4 800 km 3 000 mi 2 600 nmi Service ceiling 4 600 m 15 100 ft References editCitations edit a b c d e NACA 1932 p 1 a b c d NACA 1932 pp 1 2 a b NACA 1932 p 2 NACA 1932 pp 2 3 NACA 1932 pp 1 3 NACA 1932 p 3 NACA 1932 pp 3 8 Bibliography edit The Latecoere 501 commercial seaplane French a three engine metal sesquiplane National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics 1 September 1932 NACA AC 170 93R19763 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 564 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latecoere 500 aviafrance com Ugolok neba Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latecoere 500 amp oldid 1201054740, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
