Georges Levy G.L.40

G.L. 40
Role amphibious aircraft
Manufacturer Hydravions Georges Lévy
Designer Blanchard and Le Pen
First flight 1917
Introduction November 1917
Primary users French Air Force
Finnish Air Force



Georges Levy G.L. 40 HB2 was a three-seated French, amphibious biplane aircraft that was designed in 1917. The aircraft was designed by Blanchard and Le Pen and therefore the aircraft was also known as the Levy-Le Pen. Le Pen was Maurice Jules-Marie Le Pen born in Lorient, Morbihan, France in 1889. Le Pen was killed in a car crash in 1919. It was claimed to be the best French amphibious aircraft of World War I, but that is probably due to the low scale production of such aircraft in France at that time.[1]

The Finnish Air Force purchased 12 Georges Levy G.L. 40 HB2s, but they weren't pleased with them. Three aircraft were lost in accidents that claimed lives — and it was given the nickname "the flying coffin" in the 1920s.

Operators

 Finland
Finnish Air Force - 12 aircraft, withdrawn from use by 1923.
 France
French Navy - in service from November 1917, app. 100 built, also by Farman. Used in France, Algeria, Greece, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.
 Portugal
 Peru
 Belgium
6 Levy Lepen were used in the Belgian Congo by the Ligne Aerienne du Roi Albert.
 United States

Specifications (G.L. 40 HB2)

Data from Thulinista Hornetiin

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also


Related lists

References

Notes

  1. Taylor and Alexander 1969, pp. 104-105.

Bibliography

  • Heinonen, Timo. Thulinista Hornetiin - 75 vuotta Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneita. Tikkakoski, Finland: Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.
  • Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander. Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-71810-564-8.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georges Levy G.L.40.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.