Latécoère 380

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Latécoère 380
Role Flying boat mail plane
National origin France
Manufacturer Latécoère
First flight 24 August 1930
Primary user Aéropostale
Number built 5

The Latécoère 380 was a

mail routes to South America, the aircraft subsequently saw military service as a maritime patrol aircraft
.

The Latécoère 380 was a largely conventional flying boat design, being a parasol-wing monoplane equipped with sponsons set either side of the hull. It was powered by a pair of Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs engines installed in a tandem push-pull paired arrangement. During September 1931, the first aircraft was used to set six world seaplane records, including three speed-with-load-over-distance records and a closed circuit distance-with-load record of 2,208 km (1,372 mi). A second mail plane was constructed soon afterwards, while a further three military-orientated flying boats, designated Latécoère 381, followed in 1934.

Design

The Latécoère 380 was a twin-engined

sesquiplane flying boat designed for the long distance carriage of air mail.[1] It was parasol-wing monoplane, said wing being mounted roughly one meter above the hull on a vertical cabane that was laterally braced by two pairs of struts and longitudinally by two diagonal struts. The lower wing was divided into two parts and had a medium—thick profile that increased the lateral stability of the flying boat while on the water as well as during its take—off run; this profile also served to distribute the stresses from the struts.[1]

The aircraft features an all-metal wing structure that consisted of two box

fabric. The wing is furnished with automatically-actuated two-part ailerons, which were furnished with narrow balancing flaps that ran along nearly their entire trailing edges.[3] The horizontal empennage featured a sizable stabilizer, which was braced via four streamlined steel wires and two N struts; it also had a two—part elevator.[4] The vertical empennage had a fin and a rudder equipped with compact balancing flaps embedded into the trai1ing edges. Both the elevator and rudder were actuated via flexible controls, the pilot could also adjust the balancing flaps at any time during flight. All tail surfaces were supported by duralumin frames and covered with fabric.[4]

The Latécoère 380's hull, which was composed entirely of lightweight metals, featured a relatively sharp prow towards its base that widens toward the top.[2] It has two steps, one closer to the stem that assisted with taking off while the second aft step was used for alighting. The hull's structure consisted of numerous frames that were joined by the keel, along with various keelsons and stringers to which the light metal exterior was riveted to.[2] The frames, keel, and keelsons had webs of sheet dualumin with riveted flanges; the frames were supported by inner tubular frames that were sometimes reinforced using triangular frames. Four bulkheads divided the hull into five compartments, which were provisioned with automatically closing doors.[2] The aircraft's exterior was protected against the corrosive sea water via multiple measures, such as an oxidizing bath, a coat of white lead, and all fittings and joints being designed to be water-tight. Extensive use of tubular rivets was made throughout the aircraft's assembly.[2]

The internal volume of the hull was divided into various compartments.

shortwave radio sets along with radiogoniometric equipment, batteries, antenna reel, map holders, and reserve provisions. The next compartment contained a passageway, the space to either side of which accommodated the aircraft's main fuel tanks, that led to a relatively well ventilated crew cabin with multiple portholes; two berths and a single seat were typically installed in this space so that crew members could rest while off-duty. The rearmost compartments contained a lavatory and another baggage hold.[4]

The Latécoère 380 was powered by a pair of

tropical conditions. Fuel was housed within duralurnin tanks located in a special compartment inside of the hull, along with various control cocks and a hand pump; these tanks were provisioned a mechanism to rapidly dump fuel mid-flight during an emergency. The oil tanks are located within the engine cowling while the oil radiators was positioned at either side of the engine nacelle.[5]

Variants

Unbuilt variants

  • Latécoère 382 - tandem Hispano engines, weights and performance similar to Latécoère 381.
  • Latécoère 383 - 'Un Hydravion d'exploration', with reduced span and wing area and four 350 hp
    Gnome-Rhône 7Kd
    engines mounted fore and aft of the wing in tandem pairs. The cabin was enlarged and fitted out as living quarters.
  • Latécoère 383 bis - The Latécoère 383 fitted with Latécoère 381 wings.
  • Latécoère 384 - The designation of the Latécoère 383 fitted with four 350 hp
    Hispano-Suiza 9Qa
    engines.
  • Latécoère 384 bis - The designation of the Latécoère 383 bis fitted with four 350 hp
    Hispano-Suiza 9Qa
    engines.
  • Latécoère 385 - The designation of the Latécoère 383/4 fitted with three 500 hp
    Gnome-Rhône 9Kbr
    engines, two tractor and one pusher in wing mounted nacelles.
  • Latécoère 386 - The designation of the Latécoère 381 fitted with three 700 hp Gnome-Rhone 14Kbr engines, two tractor and one pusher in wing mounted nacelles.

Operators

 France

Specifications (Laté 380)

Laté 380 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.136

Data from N.A.C.A[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Three
  • Length: 17.20 m (61 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 31.40 m (103 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 130.0 m2 (1,400 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 5,475 kg (12,070 lb)
  • Gross weight: 9,475 kg (20,889 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Hispano-Suiza 12Ydrs , 511 kW (685 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 209 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn)
  • Range: 4,000 km (2,190 mi, 1,900 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,700 m (15,400 ft)

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b NACA 1931, p. 1.
  2. ^ a b c d e NACA 1931, p. 2.
  3. ^ NACA 1931, pp. 1-2.
  4. ^ a b c d e NACA 1931, p. 3.
  5. ^ a b c NACA 1931, p. 4.
  6. ^ NACA 1932, pp. 4-8.

Bibliography

  • "Latecoere 38-0 flying boat (French) : a long-range sesquiplane for carrying mail." National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, 1 February 1931. NACA-AC-136, 93R19715.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 564.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latécoère 38.
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