Latécoère 32

The Latécoère 32 was a flying boat built in France in 1928 for use on Aéropostale's mail routes to North Africa.

Latécoère 32
Latécoère 32.3
Role Flying boat mail plane
National origin France
Manufacturer Latécoère[1]
First flight 1928
Primary user Aéropostale[1]
Number built 8
Developed from Latécoère 23

Development

A strengthened and enlarged version of the Latécoère 23, it was a parasol-wing monoplane with sponsons for stability in the water and two engines mounted in tandem push-pull configuration on the wing.

Operational history

Put into service on the Marseilles-Algiers and Toulouse-Algiers routes, the aircraft proved most unreliable and were involved in a number of accidents. At the end of 1931, the five surviving examples were re-engined with Hispano Suiza 12Hbr engines[1] and re-designated Latécoère 32-3,[1] which persisted in service a little longer.

Eight Latécoère 32's were built with the following construction numbers (numéros d'usine) and registrations:[1]-

  • no77 - F-AILN
  • no78 - F-AILU
  • no79 - F-AILT
  • no80 - F-AISN
  • no81 - F-AISO
  • no82 - F-AIRU
  • no84 - F-AITX
  • no85 - F-AJBK

Variants
  • Latécoère 32 - original version with Farman 12We engines.[1]
  • Latécoère 32-3 - remotorised version with Hispano-Suiza 12Hbr engines.[1]

Operators

Specifications (Latécoère 32-3)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Capacity: Mail, or up to 4 passengers
  • Length: 16.34 m (53 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 28.00 m (91 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 6.145 m (20 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 123.0 m2 (1,324 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 5,400 kg (11,904 lb)
  • Gross weight: 7,500 kg (16,535 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hbr , 373 kW (500 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 202.5 km/h (126 mph, 109 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 172 km/h (107 mph, 93 kn)
  • Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,100 m (13,450 ft) attained in 44 mins
  • Rate of climb: 2.87 m/s (565 ft/min) at sea level

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
Notes
  1. Cuny, Jean. “Latécoère - Les Avions et Hydravions”.Paris. Docavia/Editions Lariviere. 1992. ISBN 2-907051-01-6
Bibliography
  • Cuny, Jean. “Latécoère - Les Avions et Hydravions”.Paris. Docavia/Editions Lariviere. 1992. ISBN 2-907051-01-6
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. . “ Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions. London. 1989. ISBN 0-517-69186-8
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