The LeO 25 was a development of the LeO 20 and retained much of that aircraft's structure, adding a new tail and liquid-cooled engines. The prototype was delivered to the Aéronautique Militaire amongst a batch of LeO 20s in 1928 for evaluation. This was redesignated LeO 252 in 1929 after an engine change, and a second, generally similar machine was purchased by Romania.[2]
In 1931, the LeO 252 remaining in France was fitted with wooden floats and handed over to the Aéronavale, forming the pattern for the majority of LeO 25s which would be produced as seaplanes. The only other members of the family to be built with wheeled undercarriage were three LeO 253s purchased by Brazil in 1931, and which would see service in the Constitutionalist Revolution the following year,[2] and the sole LeO 255 which would later be fitted with floats. This latter machine was equipped with supercharged engines[3] and was used to set a number of height-with-load records for seaplanes.[2]
The only versions produced in quantity were the LeO H-257bis and LeO H-258, which together represented orders for 86 units from the Aéronavale. Entering service in June 1935, they flew neutrality patrols during the Spanish Civil War[2][3] and some remained in service at the outbreak of the Second World War. These surviving aircraft flew convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols in September 1939[2] before being used as tactical bombers against land targets during the Blitzkrieg,[3] suffering heavy losses.[2] Fifty-three remained on strength with Vichy forces in August 1940, and these were used for secondary roles such as training and target towing until 1944.[2]
Variants
LeO 25 - landplane night bomber with Hispano-Suiza 12Hb engines (1 prototype)
LeO 252 - landplane bomber with Hispano-Suiza 12Mbr engines (1 built, one converted from LeO 25)
LeO 253 - landplane bomber similar to LeO 252 (3 built)
LeO H-254 - dedicated seaplane version of LeO 252 (2 built)
LeO H-255 - record-setting version of LeO H-254 with supercharged Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs engines (1 built)
LeO H-256 - version of H-254 with extended wingspan (1 built)
LeO H-257 - modified version for Aéronavale with Gnome-Rhône 14Kbrs engines and enclosed cockpit for pilot (1 built)
LeO H-257bis - production version of H-257 with Gnome-Rhône 14Kirs / Gnome-Rhône 14Kjrs engines, strengthened airframe, and enclosed nose gun position (60 built)
LeO H-258 - interim version similar to H-257bis but with Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engines, supplied to Aéronavale while H-257bis production was being undertaken (26 built)
^Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 579.
^ abcdefgWorld Aircraft Information Files File 900 Sheet 08. London: Bright Star Publishing.
^ abcTaylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 580.
^Parmentier, Bruno. "Lioré et Olivier LeO H-257 bis". Aviafrance (in French). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lioré et Olivier LeO 25.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing.
May 05, 2023
lioré, olivier, bomber, aircraft, produced, france, late, 1920s, 25role, bombernational, origin, francemanufacturer, lioré, olivierfirst, flight, 1928primary, user, aéronavaleleo, photo, from, aerophile, february, 1934, contents, design, development, variants,. The Liore et Olivier LeO 25 was a bomber aircraft produced in France in the late 1920s 1 LeO 25Role BomberNational origin FranceManufacturer Liore et OlivierFirst flight 1928Primary user AeronavaleLeO H 256 LeO H 257 photo from L Aerophile February 1934 LeO H 259 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications LeO H 257bis 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesDesign and development EditThe LeO 25 was a development of the LeO 20 and retained much of that aircraft s structure adding a new tail and liquid cooled engines The prototype was delivered to the Aeronautique Militaire amongst a batch of LeO 20s in 1928 for evaluation This was redesignated LeO 252 in 1929 after an engine change and a second generally similar machine was purchased by Romania 2 In 1931 the LeO 252 remaining in France was fitted with wooden floats and handed over to the Aeronavale forming the pattern for the majority of LeO 25s which would be produced as seaplanes The only other members of the family to be built with wheeled undercarriage were three LeO 253s purchased by Brazil in 1931 and which would see service in the Constitutionalist Revolution the following year 2 and the sole LeO 255 which would later be fitted with floats This latter machine was equipped with supercharged engines 3 and was used to set a number of height with load records for seaplanes 2 The only versions produced in quantity were the LeO H 257bis and LeO H 258 which together represented orders for 86 units from the Aeronavale Entering service in June 1935 they flew neutrality patrols during the Spanish Civil War 2 3 and some remained in service at the outbreak of the Second World War These surviving aircraft flew convoy escort and anti submarine patrols in September 1939 2 before being used as tactical bombers against land targets during the Blitzkrieg 3 suffering heavy losses 2 Fifty three remained on strength with Vichy forces in August 1940 and these were used for secondary roles such as training and target towing until 1944 2 Variants EditLeO 25 landplane night bomber with Hispano Suiza 12Hb engines 1 prototype LeO 252 landplane bomber with Hispano Suiza 12Mbr engines 1 built one converted from LeO 25 LeO 253 landplane bomber similar to LeO 252 3 built LeO H 254 dedicated seaplane version of LeO 252 2 built LeO H 255 record setting version of LeO H 254 with supercharged Hispano Suiza 12Xbrs engines 1 built LeO H 256 version of H 254 with extended wingspan 1 built LeO H 257 modified version for Aeronavale with Gnome Rhone 14Kbrs engines and enclosed cockpit for pilot 1 built LeO H 257bis production version of H 257 with Gnome Rhone 14Kirs Gnome Rhone 14Kjrs engines strengthened airframe and enclosed nose gun position 60 built LeO H 258 interim version similar to H 257bis but with Hispano Suiza 12Nbr engines supplied to Aeronavale while H 257bis production was being undertaken 26 built LeO 259 version with Hispano Suiza 12Ydrs Hispano Suiza 12Yfrs engines 1 built Operators Edit BrazilBrazilian Air Force 3 LeO 253 FranceAeronavale Escadrille 3B1 Escadrille 3B2 Escadrille B 1 Escadrille B 2 Escadrille B 3 Escadrille E 7 Escadrille 3S4 Armee de l Air Groupe de Bombardement II 25 RomaniaRoyal Romanian Air Force 1 LeO 252Specifications LeO H 257bis EditData from 4 General characteristicsCrew 4 Length 17 54 m 57 ft 7 in Wingspan 25 5 m 83 ft 8 in Height 6 8 m 22 ft 4 in Wing area 133 5 m2 1 437 sq ft Empty weight 4 750 kg 10 472 lb Gross weight 9 380 kg 20 679 lb Powerplant 1 Gnome Rhone 14Kirs 14 cyl air cooled radial piston engine 650 kW 870 hp LH rotation fitted to starboard Powerplant 1 Gnome Rhone 14Kjrs 14 cyl air cooled radial piston engine 650 kW 870 hp RH rotation fitted to portPerformance Maximum speed 241 km h 150 mph 130 kn Range 2 000 km 1 200 mi 1 100 nmi Service ceiling 8 000 m 26 000 ft Armament Guns 3 7 5 mm 0 30 in Darne machine guns Bombs 700 kg 1 500 lb of bombs or 1 DA torpedoSee also EditRelated lists List of Interwar military aircraftNotes Edit Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 579 a b c d e f g World Aircraft Information Files File 900 Sheet 08 London Bright Star Publishing a b c Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 580 Parmentier Bruno Liore et Olivier LeO H 257 bis Aviafrance in French Retrieved 25 December 2019 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liore et Olivier LeO 25 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions World Aircraft Information Files London Bright Star Publishing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liore et Olivier LeO 25 amp oldid 994726600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
