Lohner L

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Lohner L
Type Reconnaissance flying boat
National origin Austria-Hungary
Manufacturer Lohner, UFAG, Hansa-Brandenburg, Macchi
Maiden flight ca. 1915
Number built >100

The Lohner L was a reconnaissance flying boat produced in Austria-Hungary during World War I. It was a two-bay sesquiplane of typical configuration for the flying boats of the day, with its engine mounted pusher-wise on struts in the interplane gap. The pilot and observer sat side-by-side in an open cockpit, and both upper and lower sets of wings featured sweepback. The design was essentially an enlarged version of the single-bay Lohner E, and proved to be highly influential. Apart from licenced production by UFAG, the L provided the basis for designs from other major manufacturers. In Germany, Hansa-Brandenburg manufactured a modified version of it as their first flying boat, the FB, and in Italy, a captured example was used as a pattern aircraft by Macchi, who produced it as the L.1. In turn, the L.1 would provide the foundation for a large number of Macchi designs over the coming years.

The captured aircraft (serial L.40) was taken intact near the naval air station of Port Corsini. The captured flying-boat was copied by Macchi-Nieuport and the L.1 was built within a month. The L.1s were delivered to Italian maritime reconnaissance and bombing units based on the Adriatic. An improved version was developed as the Macchi L.2

A restored example of an Austro-Hungarian Lohner L (serial L.127) is preserved at the Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle.

[edit] Variants

  • Lohner L
  • Hansa-Brandenburg FB
  • Macchi L.1 - with Fiat machine gun and Isotta-Fraschini V.4A engine (14 built)

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specifications (Lohner L)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two, pilot and observer
  • Length: 10.26 m (33 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.20 m (53 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 53.0 m² (570 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 1,150 kg (2,535 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,700 kg (3,750 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Austro-Daimler, 120 kW (160 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 105 km/h (65 mph)
  • Range: 600 km (375 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 2,500 m (8,200 ft)

Armament

  • 1 × trainable machine gun for observer
  • 200 kg (440 lb) of bombs

[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 611. 
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 900 Sheet 20. 
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing, 2392. 
  • Italian Air Force Museum page on Lohner L
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