Loire 46

infobox Aircraft
name = Loire 46
type = Trainer/fighter
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manufacturer =


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primary user = "Armee de l'Air"
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variants with their own articles = The Loire 46 was an improved modification of two previous Loire fighters—the Loire 43 and 45. Although improved, it resembled the earlier machines retaining their gull mono-wing configuration, open cockpit, and fixed landing gear. The first of five prototype Loire 46s flew in September 1934. It demonstrated excellent handling characteristics and 60 production aircraft were ordered by the Armée de l'Air. The initial machines arrived at fighter Escadrilles in August 1936. In September 1936, the five prototype Loire 46s were sent to the Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War.

By the beginning of World War II, the Loire 46's gull wing configuration was recognized as obsolete and most of these fighters had been relegated to Armée de l'Air training schools, where they were used as advanced trainers. However, one fighter Escadrille was still equipped with the Loire 46 during the early weeks of the war. Their performance against modern German fighters was predictable.

Variants

;Loire 46.01:First Loire 46 prototype.;Loire 46:Single-seat fighter/trainer aircraft.

Operators

;FRA
*Armee de l'Air;flag|Spain|1931
*Spanish Republican Air Force

pecifications (Loire 46)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
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crew=1
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=7.88 m
length alt=25 ft 10 in
span main=11.83 m
span alt=38 ft 9 in
height main=4.13 m
height alt=13 ft 6 in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,450 kg
empty weight alt= 3,197 lb
loaded weight main= 2,100 kg
loaded weight alt= 4,630 lb
useful load main=
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engine (prop)=Gnome-Rhône 14Kfs
type of prop=14-cylinder, air-cooled radial piston engine
number of props=1
power main= 694 kW
power alt=930 hp
power original=
propeller or rotor?=
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max speed main= 370 km/h
max speed alt= 230 mph
cruise speed main=
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range main= 750 km
range alt=466 miles
ceiling main= 6,600 m
ceiling alt= 21,650 ft
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armament=
*4× fixed forward-firing 7.5 mm (0.295 inch) MAC 1934 machine guns mounted in the wings
avionics=