Lioré et Olivier LeO H-242

The Lioré et Olivier LeO H.242 was a French-manufactured flying boat that was used for European passenger air services in the 1930s. Several were operated by Air France.

LeO H.242
Role Passenger flying boat
National origin France
Manufacturer Lioré et Olivier
First flight 1929
Introduction 1933
Retired 1942
Primary user Air France
Number built 15

One LeO H.242 features at the end of Hergé's The Adventures of Tintin comic King Ottokar's Sceptre.[1]

An Air France LeO H-242 at Marseille

Variants
H-24.01
First prototype. Powered by two 373 kW (500 hp) Renault 12Jb engines. One built.
H-241
The initial four-engined long-range heavy-weight variant of the H-24. The hull was almost exclusively made of anodised Duralumin, for corrosion resistance. Although construction began before the H.242, the sole H.241 was completed later, but did not enter production.[2]
H-242
Initial production. Powered by four Gnome-Rhône 7Kd Titan Major radial engines. Two were built for Air France and delivered in December 1933 and February 1934. They could carry ten passengers.[3]
H-242/1
Revised production version, with a modified engine installation. Twelve were built for Air France and delivered between March 1935 and May 1937, carrying twelve passengers. Most H.242/1s were fitted with wide chord NACA cowlings over the front engine only, but some aircraft were fitted with narrow chord Townend rings around the front engine.[2]
H-243
an un-built projected version for the French navy with enlarged hull.[2]
H-244
A projected high-speed inter-continental flying boat for Air Union, abandoned when Air Union was absorbed by Air France.[2]
H-246
A major redesign, the four engines now all in tractor configuration.

Operators
 France
 Italy

Specifications (H-242/1)
LeO H.242 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile July 1934

Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft,[4][5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4
  • Capacity: 12 passengers
  • Length: 18.45 m (60 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 28 m (91 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 6.33 m (20 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 116.25 m2 (1,251.3 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 5,868 kg (12,937 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 8,700 kg (19,180 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Gnome-Rhône 7Kd Titan Major 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 261 kW (350 hp) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed variable-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
  • Range: 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 6 minutes 50 seconds

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lioré et Olivier LeO H-242.
  1. "Le sceptre d'Ottokar".
  2. Hartmann, Gérard. "Le Lioré et Olivier H-24, premier hydravion d'Air France" [The Lioré and Olivier H-24, Air France's first seaplane] (PDF). www.hydroretro.net (in French).
  3. "Nico Braas Collection". 1000aircraftphotos.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  4. Donald 1997, p.568.
  5. Parmentier, Bruno (19 January 2010). "Aviafrance : Lioré et Olivier LeO H-242/1". Aviafrance (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2019.

Bibliography
  • Bousquet, Gérard. French Flying Boats of WW II. Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus, 2013 ISBN 978-83-63678-06-7
  • Donald, David (editor).The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X
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