Latham_43

Latham 43

Latham 43

Type of aircraft

The Latham 43 was a flying boat bomber built in France in the 1920s for service with the French Navy. It was a conventional design for its day - a two-bay biplane with unstaggered wings, and engines mounted tractor-fashion on struts in the interplane gap. The pilot sat in an open cockpit, with a gunner in an open bow position, and another in an open position amidships.

Quick Facts Role, National origin ...

Two examples, designated Latham 42 powered by liquid-cooled Vee engines were evaluated by the navy in 1924, leading to a contract for 18 aircraft powered by air-cooled radial engines instead. Designated Latham 43 by the manufacturer and HB.3 in naval service (for Hydravion de bombardement - "Seaplane-bomber", 3 seats), they remained in service between 1926 and 1929.

Eight other machines with the original liquid-cooled engine were sold to Poland.


Variants

  • prototypes with Lorraine 12Da engines (2 built)
  • production version for France with Gnome et Rhône 9Aa engines (18 built)
  • production version for Poland with Lorraine engines (8 built)

Operators

 France
 Poland

Specifications (French production version)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Three
  • Length: 15.60 m (61 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 22.50 m (73 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 5.40 m (17 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 125 m2 (1,345 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 3,460 kg (7,610 lb)
  • Gross weight: 5,390 kg (11,860 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Gnome et Rhône 9Aa , 280 kW (380 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 km/h (100 mph, 87 kn)
  • Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft)

Armament

  • 1 × trainable .303 machine gun in open position in bow
  • 1 × trainable .303 machine gun in open position amidships
  • 400 kg (880 lb) of bombs

See also

Related lists

References

    Bibliography

    • Nelcarz, Bartolomiej & Peczkowski, Robert (2001). White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918–1939. Ottringham, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 1-902109-73-2.
    • Passingham, Malcolm (November–December 1999). "Latham's 'Boats: Pictorial History of the Designs of Jean Latham". Air Enthusiast (84): 22–27. ISSN 0143-5450.

    Further reading

    • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 568.
    • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 900 Sheet 2.
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