Georges Levy G.L.40

G.L. 40
Role amphibious aircraft
Manufacturer Georges Levy
Designer Blanchard and Le Pen
First flight 1917
Introduction September 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 L'Orient, 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.

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.

Contents

Operators

 Finland
Finnish Air Force - 12 aircraft
 France
French Navy
 Portugal
 Belgium
A Levy Lepen was used in the Belgian Congo by the Ligne Aerienne du Roi Albert.

Specifications (G.L. 40 HB2)

Data from Thulinista Hornetiin

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Sources

See also

Related lists