Lohner L

Lohner L
Role Reconnaissance flying boat
National origin Austria-Hungary
Manufacturer Lohner, UFAG, Hansa-Brandenburg, Macchi
First 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.

Development

The design was essentially more powerful version of the 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 Porto 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.

Operational history

Loner seaplane been extensively used to before the First World War and during his lifetime, and those planes that were overtaken after the war served for several years. For this plane are related to some important and interesting events such as:

Variants

Operators

 Austria-Hungary
 German Empire
 Italy
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Specifications (Lohner L)

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Notes

  1. ^ * Јанић, Чедомир (2003) (in (Serbian)). Век авијације - [илустрована хронологија]. Беочин: Ефект 1. COBISS 110428172. 

References