Lioré et Olivier LeO H-246

Template:Infobox Aircraft The Sud-Est LeO H-246 was a large four-engined flying boat from the late 1930s.

Development

The LeO H-246 was developed in 1937 by the French aircraft manufacturer Lioré-et-Olivier (which later the same year was incorporated into the nationalized aircraft manufacturing company Sud-Est). The prototype LeO H-246.01 made its maiden flight on September 30 1937. The parasol type metal-fuselage aircraft could carry a crew of 4 and 26 passengers. Air France placed an order for six H-246.1 aircraft in January 1938. After the German invasion of France in 1940, the Vichy regime intended to take some modified aircraft into their air force. The aircraft was mainly used for reconnaissance and was equipped with four 7.5 mm machine guns. Four civil H-246s were taken over by the German Luftwaffe in 1942. The German aircraft were converted into carrying up to 21 soldiers or 14 stretchers. The aircraft were used for various tasks, including transports in Finland. After the war, two H-264.1s were used by Air France for a few years.

Operators

France

• Air France received 6 aircraft.

Vichy France

• Vichy French Air Force operated aircraft taken over from Air France.

Germany

• Luftwaffe operated 4 aircraft captured in Vichy France.

Specifications (H-246.1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 4-5
• Capacity: 26 passengers or
  21 soldiers or
  14 stretchers

Performance Armament

• French version: 4x 7.5 mm Darne machine guns, 600 kg bombs
• German version: 5x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns

See also

Related lists