Loire 130

infobox Aircraft
name = Loire 130
type = reconnaissance flying boat
manufacturer = Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire


caption =
designer =
first flight = November 19 1934
introduced = 1937
retired = 1951
status =
primary user = French Navy
more users = French Air Force
produced = 1937-1942
number built = 125
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Loire 130 was a French-built flying boat that saw service during WWII.

Development

The Loire 130 originated from a mid-1930s requirement from the French Navy for a reconnaissance seaplane or flying boat that could also serve aboard French battleships and cruisers. Chosen in 1936 against five competitors (Bréguet 610, Gourdou-Leseurre GL-820 HY, Levasseur PL.200, Potez CAMS 120), the Loire 130's performance was deemed to be good and production orders for 150 of the machines were placed. It entered production in 1937 and replaced most shipborne seaplanes and flying boats already in service.

Operational service

In the late 1930s, Loire 130s were serving aboard most battleships and cruisers of the French Navy, as well as aboard seaplane tender "Commandant Teste". Although appearing quite obsolete and having very marginal performance for their time, quite a few Loire 130s survived the war and remained in post-war French service, especially in French colonies until 1951.

Variants

;Loire 130 M :Production version.;Loire 130 Cl:Colonial variant with enlarged radiator.

Operators

;FRA
*French Air Force
*French Navy

pecifications (Loire 130)

aircraft specifications

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

ref=

crew=4 to 5
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=11.30 m
length alt=37 ft
span main=16.00 m
span alt=52.5 ft
height main=3.85 m
height alt=12.6 ft
area main=38.20 m²
area alt=125.3 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main=2,050 kg
empty weight alt=4,519 lb
loaded weight main=3,500 kg
loaded weight alt=7,716 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs
type of prop=12-cylinder vee
number of props=1
power main=
power alt=720 hp
power original=

propeller or rotor?=propeller
propellers=
number of propellers per engine=
propeller diameter main=
propeller diameter alt=

max speed main= 225 km/h
max speed alt=139 mp/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=2 x 7.5 mm Darne machine guns, 2 x 75 kg (165 lb) bombs
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
see also=
related=
similar aircraft=
sequence=
lists=
*List of aircraft of the Armée de l'Air, World War II
*List of seaplanes and flying boats

References

*Morareau, Lucien (2002). "Les aéronefs de l'aviation maritime (1910-1942)", ARDHAN, ISBN 2-913344-04-6