J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Georges Levy 40 HB2

  The Levy-Besson G.L.40 HB2 was a collaborative effort and may have incorporated some of Marcel Besson's design ideas. However, it was designed primarily by Le Pen and Blanchard. Given the large number of people involved in its design and production, it is not surprising that the aircraft was known by a number of other names. These included Georges Levy 40 HB2, Georges Levy 300-hp Renault, G.L.300, and the Levy-Le-Pen (which was how the seaplane was referred to by the Americans). The HB2 designation probably indicted Hydravion Bombardement with a crew of two.
  While the Levy-Besson 200-hp triplane had been successful, the Aviation Maritime's distrust of triplanes probably made it imperative that the new design be a biplane. The Aviation Maritime felt that biplanes offered the dual advantages of providing an adequate surface area without excessive wingspan, and possessed a rigid structure without requiring the large number of drag-inducing struts needed on triplanes.
  The aircraft was a two-bay biplane with the top wing longer than the bottom. Diagonal struts connected the base of the upper wing with the outermost interplane struts. The upswept tail had a fixed fin attached to the horizontal stabilizer with aerodynamically balanced elevators and a large unbalanced rudder. The engine was a 280-hp Renault 12 Fe. Consideration was given to fitting the plane with the less powerful 225-hp Lorraine engine, but this does not seem to have been done on operational machines. The engine was mounted as a pusher and was suspended just below the upper wing. A large cutout in the trailing edge of the top wing provided clearance for the propeller arc. There was a pivoted machine gun mounting in the nose. The hull was covered in cedar ply. The fuel tanks were in the hull and Astra pumps were used to supply the engines with fuel. The propeller was built by Levasseur. The crew of two were seated side by side in a small cockpit ahead of the lower wing. There was a stabilizing float under each wing tip.
  The aircraft had an impressive weight-carrying ability and was for this reason used primarily as a bomber. Indeed, it was the only French seaplane in 1918 capable of carrying G bombs, which weighed 80 kg and were one of the most effective bombs for anti-submarine warfare. The usual armament load was four 35-kg bombs or two "I" bombs of 120-150 kg and a single Lewis machine gun. Although the aircraft was designed to meet the HB2 category for a two-seat bomber, there was a provision for a third crew member to be accommodated in the extreme nose. From this location the observer had an excellent view and an exceptional field of fire for the machine gun.
  Production of the aircraft began shortly after the prototype's first flight, and the type entered service in November 1917. A total of 100 were ordered, built under license by the Farman firm. The G.L.40s were based in metropolitan France, Algeria, Greece, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.


Foreign Service

Finland
  Postwar, several aircraft were acquired by the Finnish air service. Twelve Georges-Levy G.L.40 HB2s were obtained although, at least by the Finns, these were given the designation Georges-Levy R. The known serials for these aircraft included B 304 and 400 to 409. They were in service from 1919-23.

Peru
  In 1919 a French air mission supplied the Peruvian air service with an estimated three Levy-Le Pen flying boats - possibly G.L.40 HB2s.

Portugal
  Portugal's naval air service purchased two G.L.40 HB2s in 1918. They remained in service until 1920.

United States
  Twelve examples of the G.L.40 HB2 were used by the U.S. naval air service. The American aircraft had a Lewis gun in the bow. The aircraft used were given serials GL 13, GL 16, GL 20, GL 21, GL 27, GL 28, GL 29, GL 30, GL 60, GL 83, GL 84, and GL 85. They were based at Le Croisic and St. Trojan. The aircraft at St. Trojan escorted convoys beginning on 19 July 1918. However, while a number of missions were flown, it has been recorded that the aircraft's engines had been overhauled two or three times before delivery to the Americans and were therefore difficult to keep repaired. The bomb-carrying gear was also defective and resulted in the loss of an aircraft on 20 August 1918. Although it was also found that reconnaissance flights were of more value than convoy escort missions, the patrols flown from Le Croisic were mainly for convoy escort. GL 27 and GL 84 were sent to the United States after the war and received serials A-5650 and A-5651 respectively.


Georges-Levy 40 HB2 Two/Three-Seat Flying Boat with 280-hp Renault 12Fe
   Span 18.50 m; length 12.40 m; height 3.85 m; wing area 68.72 sq. m
   Empty weight 1,450 kg; loaded weight 2,350 kg
   Maximum speed: 150 km/h (some sources state 185 km/h); climb to 2000 m in 25 minutes; range 400 km; endurance 6.5 hours
   Armament: a Lewis machine gun and 300 kg of bombs Approximately 100 built