
Описание
Страна: Франция
Год: 1917
Варианты
- Letord - 1 / 2 / 4 / 5 - 1917 - Франция
- Letord - 3 / 6 / 7 - 1917 - Франция
- J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)
- W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan - French Aircraft of the First World War /Flying Machines/
Letord 3. Intended as a medium bomber, the Letord 3 differed from the reconnaissance variants by having equal-span wings with a substantially increased wing area.
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan - French Aircraft of the First World War /Flying Machines/
Letord 6. The Letord 3 bomber was modified to serve as the basis for this long-range fighter.
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan - French Aircraft of the First World War /Flying Machines/
A Letord 3, flown by Marechal de Logis Dupart, was tested by LET 46 in December 1917.
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan - French Aircraft of the First World War /Flying Machines/
Letord 6. This variant was to be fitted with a 37 mm Hotchkiss cannon in the nose.
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan - French Aircraft of the First World War /Flying Machines/
As with the Letord 3, the Letord 7 had the larger, equal-span wings and was intended to be used as a bomber.
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan - French Aircraft of the First World War /Flying Machines/
Letord 7. Unlike other airplanes in the Letord series, the Letord 7 had increased wing area to carry a heavier bomb load.
J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)
Letord 3
The need for a new night bomber led the STAe to request that Letord, Farman, and Caudron undertake the design of a twin-engine bomber designed to use two 240-hp Lorraine engines. The STAe was attracted by the concept of using a modified Letord 1 as the basis for the new bomber as this would speed development lime. Modifications to permit the Letord 1 to use the new engine included a new carburetor, rearrangement of engine wiring, and new radiators. Estimated speed was 140 km/h at 2,000 meters and climb to 2.000 meters was expected io take 20 minutes. Estimated weight of the bomber was 3,400 kg and wing surface area was to be 100 square meters (although another memo specified 71 sq. m. which was what was actually built). The bomb load was to be carried internally, which required the fuel tanks to be installed behind the engines. The new plane became the Letord 3, test-flown by Capitaine Villemin. Apparently the prototype was flown as a two-seater with a pilot and rear gunner only. It is likely that the deletion of the front gunner (a dubious asset for night flights) permitted a heavier bomb load, although this cannot be confirmed from available documentation.
The Letord type 3 was the first of the Letord series to be designed from the outset as a long-range bomber, intended to meet the Bn2 specification for a new night bomber. It retained the backward-staggered wing found in most of the Letord series but differed in having equal-span wings with four bays of struts as well as a substantial increase in wing area. Power was supplied by two 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ba engines, the same engines as the Letord 2.
A Letord 3, flown by Marechal-de-Logis Dupart, was tested by LET 46 in December of 1917. However, it was not selected for production. The Farman F.50 and Breguet 16 were later chosen to meet the Bn2 requirement. An escort version of the Type 3, equipped with cannon, was developed as the Letord 6.
Letord 3 Twin-Engine Night Bomber with Two 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ba Engines
Span 17.95 m; length 11.15 m; height 3.28 m; wing area 71.40 sq. m
Empty weight 1.625 kg; loaded weight 2,400 kg
Maximum speed: 157 km/h at 2,000 meters; climb to 2.000 m in 10 min.; range 370 km
One built
Letord 6
The Letord series of reconnaissance aircraft are well known but there was another development designated the Type 6 Ca.3. The Ca.3 specification called for a three-seat cannon-armed aircraft. It was specified that planes of this class must have sufficient speed and range to allow them to act as escort fighters for the Breguet 14 day bombers. The cannon would allow the escorts to destroy enemy fighters from a distance or be used to devastating effect in close-range combat.
The twin-engine Letord family had been shown to have adequate speed and range for long-range reconnaissance. It would have been logical to consider this aircraft as the basis for a cannon-armed escort fighter. The Letord 3 bomber was modified to serve as the new lighter, presumably because it had a greater range and load-carrying capacity than the reconnaissance variants. The fighter variant was powered by two 220-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Be engines, replacing the 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bas on the Letord 3. The pilot was located just below the upper wing and there was a gunner’s station in the nose and a second one just behind the pilot. The nose station contained the Hotchkiss 37-mm cannon.
The Caudron R.11 would vindicate, at least to the French air service's satisfaction, the concept of the long-range escort fighter. In view of this aircraft’s success in this role, a cannon-armed variant (the R.14) was under development, thus making the Letord fighter superfluous. Further development ol the Letord Ca.3 was abandoned.
Letord 6 Cannon-Armed Long-Range Escort with Two 220-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Be Engines
Span 17. 95 in; length 11.05 tn; height 3.50 m; wing area 69.00 sq. m
Maximum speed: approximately 150 km/h
Armament: one 37-mm Hotchkiss cannon and one 7.7-mm machine gun
One built
Letord 7
Developed from the Letord 3, the Letord 7 was the second aircraft in the Letord family designed as a bomber. As with the preceding Letord 3, it may have been intended to meet the Bn2 classification. Built in 1918, it was a twin-engine biplane with four-bay wings. Unlike preceding planes in the Letord reconnaissance series, the Letord 7 had a wing with increased surface area in order to carry a heavier bomb load. Power was supplied by two 275-hp Lorraine-Dietrich engines, which were slightly more powerful than the 240-hp engines originally planned for the Letord 3. A crew of three was carried. The prototype is believed to have carried serial number 297. The Letord 7 was not selected for production.
Letord 7 Three-Seat Heavy Night Bomber with Two 275-hp Lorraine-Dietrich engines
Span 19.00 m; length 11.35 m; height 3.10 m; wing area 72.0 sq. m
Empty weight 1,760 kg; loaded weight 2,860 kg
Maximum area: 143 km/h at 3,000 meters; climb to 3,000 m in 18 minutes; range 530 km
One built
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