Lacroix-Trussant LT-51 Microplan
Gérard Trussant · France · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The Lacroix-Trussant LT-51 Microplan was a French, low-powered, two-seat amateur-built biplane. It flew just before the outbreak of the Second World War and was re-engined after the war.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Inverted-V cabane struts joining the upper wing to the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane of approximately equal span with rectangular wings and marked stagger
- Inverted-V cabane struts joining the upper wing to the fuselage
- Flat-twin Lefèvre engine in the nose with cylinders projecting for cooling
Dihedral is on the lower wing only, with long ailerons only on the lower wing. The 32 hp engine is geared down.
Specifications
- The Lacroix-Trussant LT-51 Microplan has a length of 4.55 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6 m (20 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Léon Lacroix and Gérard Trussant designed the LT-51 after the earlier single-seat LN-3 Microplan crashed, and it inherited the Microplan name. It was a two-seater with over twice the wing area of its predecessor. Its first flight was from Agen on 25 June 1939.
Variants
Only one was built, and re-engined later.
Where you'll see it
It was scheduled to take part in a light aircraft rally at Cahors in September 1939. It survived the war hidden, was re-engined and flew until 1953.
Related aircraft
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