Latécoère 521, Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris flying boat

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The Latécoère 521, "Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris", was a French six-engined flying boat, and one of the first large trans-Atlantic passenger aircraft. The inaugural flight took place on 10 January 1935, followed by a demonstration flight in December 1935 via Dakar, North Africa to Natal, Brazil, then north to the French West Indies. Having reached Pensacola, Florida, it was caught in a hurricane and wrecked. The aircraft was returned to France by ship to be rebuilt, before going into service with Air France on the trans-Atlantic route. In June 1937, it flew non-stop to Natal before returning to France via the North Atlantic. Then, equipped with more powerful engines, the aircraft made four further return flights to New York, between May and July 1939. During one of these, pilot Henri Guillaumet flew the Latécoère 521 from New York City to Biscarrosse, flying 5,875 km (3,634 miles) at an average speed of 206 km/h (127 mph), including 2,300 km (1,419 miles) with one engine out. The aircraft could transport 72 passengers in a great comfort. On the lower level there was a salon with 20 armchairs and tables, six deluxe double cabins, each with its own bathroom, seating for a further 22 passengers, a kitchen, a bar and a baggage hold. The upper level had seating for 18 passengers, a storage compartment and an office for the three flight engineers. On the outbreak of World War II the Laté 521 was attached to the French Navy E.6 flotilla, based in Port-Lyautey, Morocco, and was used to patrol the North Atlantic. After the armistice in June 1940 it flew to Berre, near Marseilles, where it was finally wrecked by the retreating Germans in August 1944. The Laté 521 was the basis of the single Laté 522 "Ville de Saint Pierre" civil airliner, and the three Laté 523 navalized variants. General characteristics Capacity: 72 passengers Length: 31.62 m (103 ft 8 in) Wingspan: 49.31 m (161 ft 9 in) Height: 9.07 m (29 ft 9 in) Wing area: 330 m² (3,551 ft²) Empty weight: 20,493 kg (45,084 lb) Max takeoff weight: 37,993 kg (83,585 lb) Powerplant: 6× Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs water-cooled V12 engines, 570 kW (760 hp) each Performance Maximum speed: 247 km/h (132 knots, 152 mph) Range: 3,900 km (2,106 nm, 2,406 mi) Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,664 ft)

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Uploaded: September 16th, 2007 @ 12:12 am
Author: Bomberguy

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Tags: 521 aircraft aviation boat de flying french history latécoère lieutenant paris seaplane vaisseau

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