Latécoère 300

Infobox Aircraft
name = Latécoère 300


caption =
type = Civil and military flying boat
national origin = France
manufacturer = Latécoère
designer =
first flight = 1931
introduction = 1932
retired =
status =
primary user = Air France
more users = French Military
produced =
number built = 7
program cost =
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Latécoère 300 series of aircraft were a group of civil and military flying boats. They were manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Latécoère in the 1930's. A single Latécoère 300 was built; it was flown for the first time in 1931 and sank the same year. It was rebuilt and flown again in 1932, being named "Croix du Sud" ("Southern Cross").Ref Jane's | Latécoère 300 Series | 566 | 1993 ] The 300 was a monoplane of parasol wing construction. It was powered by four engines, each of which produced 650hp, arranged in two push-pull pairs. The 300 set an international aviation record for seaplanes on 31 December 1933, by flying km to mi|3697 non-stop between Berre Lake near Marseille and Saint-Louis, Senegal. The aircraft then entered service for Air France, transporting mail across the Atlantic Ocean from Dakar, Senegal to Natal, Brazil. [cite book
last = Allaz
first = Camille
title = The History of Air Cargo and Airmail from the 18th Century
publisher = Christopher Foyle Publishing
date = 2005
location = London
pages = 80-81
isbn = 0954889606] It completed 23 missions before being lost at sea on December 7, 1936.The civillian Laté 301, and military Laté 302 were based on the 300, with some design improvements. A total of 3 aircraft of each type were built between 1935 and 1936. The first of the 301s was lost, the remaining two were used in South Atlantic service until 1939. In 1939 the last remaining 301 was converted to military service, joining the 302s in patrol duties in West Africa.

Original Laté 302 aircraft had 930 hp engines, bow, beam, and engine nacelle machine gun ports, and a bomb load of kg to lb|300. The aircraft supported a crew of four and included sleeping accommodations. Fuel and payload were stored inside the hull. The 302s and converted 301 were in service at the start of World War II, and continued in military service, flying patrols from Dakar until retired due to lack of spare parts, the last aircraft being grounded at the end of 1941.

Variants

;Laté 300:Mailplane with Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engines, one built.;Laté 301:Mailplane with Hispano-Suiza 12Nbr engines, three built.;Laté 302:Maritime reconnaissance aircraft with Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs engines, three built.

Operators

;FRA
*Air France
*French Navy

pecifications (Laté 302)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref= Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats cite book |last= Green |first=William |title=Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats |year= 1968|publisher= Macdonald|location=London|pages= p.22-24 |isbn= 356 01449 5 ]

crew=8
capacity=
length main= 26.16 m
length alt= 85 ft 9½ in
span main= 44.01 m
span alt= 144 ft 4¼ in
height main= 7.98 m
height alt= 26 ft 2⅛ in
area main= 258 m²
area alt= 2,755.6 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 14,340 kg
empty weight alt= 31,548 lb
loaded weight main= 24,050 kg
loaded weight alt= 52,911 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs2
type of prop=V-12 water cooled
number of props=4
power main= 694 kW
power alt= 930 hp
power original=

max speed main= 240 km/h
max speed alt= 130 knots, 149 mph
max speed more= at 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
cruise speed main= 185 km/h
cruise speed alt= 100 knots, 115 mph
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 3,300 km
range alt= 1,783 nm, 2,050 mi
ceiling main= 5,000 m
ceiling alt= 16,400 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 93.2 kg/m²
loading alt= 19.2 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.11 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.070 hp/lb
more performance=*Endurance: 20 hours at 150 km/h (93 mph)
*Climb to 2,000 m (6,560 ft): 12.5 min

guns=1 7.5 mm (0.3 in) Darne machine gun in bow, 2 firing through beam windows
bombs=4 x 75 kg (165 lb) bombs

avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
sequence=
lists=
* List of seaplanes and flying boats
see also=

References

External Links

* [http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/air/fr/latecoer/302.htm Latécoère 302 Specifications and photo]
* [http://frenchnavy.free.fr/menus/menu_seaplanes.htm Seaplanes and flying boats of the French Naval Aviation]