Latécoère 631

infobox Aircraft
name = Latécoère 631
type = flying boat
manufacturer = Latécoère
designer = Pierre-Georges Latécoère
first flight = November 4 1942
number built = 10 (plus the prototype)

The Latécoère 631 was a civil transatlantic flying boat built by Latécoère, the largest ever built up to its time. The prototype was captured by Germany during their occupation of France in World War II, and subsequently bombed by the Allies. The last Latécoère 631 was withdrawn from service in 1955 after the losses of aircraft no.7 (owned by Latécoère, lost at sea), 6 (Air France, lost in the Atlantic), 3 (SEMAF, off Cap Ferret) and 8 (France-Hydro, in Cameroon).

Variants

*Late 631.01 : First prototype.

pecifications (Laté 631)

aircraft specifications

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

ref= World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft Angelucci 1984, p.305.]

crew=5
capacity=46
length main= 43.46 m
length alt= 142 ft 6⅝ in
span main= 57.43 m
span alt= 188 ft 4½ in
height main= 10.1 m
height alt=33 ft 1½ in
area main= 349.4 m²
area alt= 3,760 ft² Stroud 1993, p.62.]
airfoil=
empty weight main= 32,400 kg
empty weight alt= 71,280 lb
loaded weight main= 71,350 kg
loaded weight alt= 137,300 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Wright R-2600-A5B Cyclone
type of prop=14-cylinder air cooled radial engine
number of props=6
power main= 1,194 kW
power alt= 1,600 hp
power original=

max speed main=394 km/h
max speed alt= 213 knots, 245 mph
cruise speed main= 297 km/h
cruise speed alt= 161 knots, 185 mph
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 6,035 km
range alt= 3,281 nm, 3,750 mi
ceiling main= m
ceiling alt= ft
climb rate main= m/s
climb rate alt= ft/min
loading main= 92.7 kg/m²
loading alt= 19.0 lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.10 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.070 hp/lb
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

Air France Accident

On the night of July 31 1948 Latécoère 631 number 06 ("Lionel de Marnier" reg. F-BDRC) owned by Air France was flying from Fort-de-France to Port-Etienne in Mauritania when it disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all 52 on board. It is believed to have gone down around 1200 miles from Dakar in Senegal. The U.S. Coast Guard ship Campbell reported finding debris on August 4 but no sign of survivors.

References

*Angelucci, Enzo. "World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft". London:Willow Books, 1986. ISBN 0-00-218148-7.
*Stroud, John. "Post War Propliners: Latécoère 631". "Aeroplane Monthly", January 1993. London:IPC. pp58-62.

External links

* [http://avia.russian.ee/air/france/latecoere_l-631.php Virtual Aircraft Museum]
* [http://www.pionnair-ge.com/spip1/spip.php?article60 LAté-631 on Geneva lake (1948)]