Latécoère 28
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| Latécoère 28 | |
|---|---|
 Three view drawings of Latecoere 28 |
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| Type | Eight-passenger monoplane |
| Manufacturer | Forges et Ateliers de Construction Latécoère |
| Maiden flight | 1927 |
| Primary user | Aéropostale |
| Developed from | Latécoère 26 |
The Latécoère 28 was a successful French long-haul mail plane and passenger airliner of the 1930s. It was the main symbol 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.
Its 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.
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[edit] Design and development
The Latécoère 28 was a development of the Latécoère 26. It was braced high-wing single-engined monoplane initially powered by Renault 12Jbr engine. The Latécoère 28 had a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and enclosed cockpit for two crew. The cabin was fitted for eight-passengers.
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 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]
This high-wing single engine plane was first built with Renault engines which were soon replaced by Hispano Suiza 12Lbr giving 500 hp (370 kW). The floatplane version had the Hispano Suiza 12Lbr giving 650 hp (480 kW).
Technically, it was a refinement of the Latécoère 26 fuselage. The passengers had access to a washroom.
[edit] Operational service
The first aircraft were used by Aéropostale on the African mail routes connecting Cassablanca 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.
[edit] Variants
- Laté 28.0
- Initial production with a 500hp (373 kW) Renault 12Jbr engine, 17 built (some later converted to 28.1).
- Laté 28.1
- Further production with a 500hp (373 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Hbxr engine, 29 built.
- Laté 28.2
- Mail carrier, one built.
- Laté 28.3
- Mail carrier, five built.
- Laté 28.3/H
- A wheeled landing gear version of the 28.3, one built.
- Laté 28.3-I
- A passenger version of the 28.3, one built.
- Laté 28.4-I
- A development of the 28.3 with a 650hp (485kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engine, one built
- Laté 28.5
- Structurally strengthen version with a 650hp (485kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engine.
- Laté 28.6
- For Venezuela powered by a 650hp (485kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engine, three built.
- Laté 28.8
- One 28.0 modified with an enlarged wingspan
- Laté 28.9
- Three-seat landplane bomber for Venezuela, three built.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Civil
- Aeropostala Argentina
- Aviacon Aeropostal Venezolana
- Linea Aeropostal Venezolana
[edit] Military
[edit] Specifications (Latécoère 28.0)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Capacity: 8 passengers
- Length: 13.64 m (44 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 19.25 m (63 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 48.6 m² (523 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,173 kg (4,790 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,856 kg (8,501 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Renault 12Jb, 373 kW (500 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 223 km/h (139 mph)
- Range: 4,685 km (2,928 miles)
- Service ceiling 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
[edit] See also
Related development Laté 26 - Laté 29 - Laté 35
Comparable aircraft Fokker F.VII
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[edit] External links
- (French) Latécoère 28
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