Latécoère 500

The Latécoère 500 was a flying boat built in France in 1931 for use on the transatlantic mail route to South America. Designed to a specification by the French aviation ministry, Latécoère also built a passenger-carrying variant, the 501, which actually flew first. The design was a large, parasol-wing monoplane 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.

Latécoère 500
Latécoère 501
Role Flying boat mail plane
National origin France
Manufacturer Latécoère
First flight 24 February 1932
Number built 2

The Latécoère 500 was not accepted for service due to its poor flying qualities and was soon scrapped. The 501 flew for a while on passenger routes in the Mediterranean.

Variants
  • Latécoère 500 - mailplane version (1 built)
  • Latécoère 501 - airliner version (1 built)


Specifications (Laté 500)
Latécoère 501 3-view drawing from NACA-AC-170

General characteristics

  • Crew: 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: 2,816 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
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 564.
  • aviafrance.com
  • Уголок неба
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