Latécoère 340
Latécoère · France · first flew 1930 · airliner
The Latécoère 340 was a three-engined, parasol-winged flying boat designed in 1929 in France for middle-distance, overseas routes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol wing carrying two tractor and one central pusher engine on top
- Sponsons for stability on the water and extra lift in the air
- Hull with a planing bottom with two steps
It resembled the Latécoère 21 but was smaller, carrying five passengers, with three 400 hp Hispano-Suiza 12 Jb V-12 engines mounted close together on top of the wing.
Specifications
- The Latécoère 340 has a length of 14.5 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23 m (75 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 232 km/h (144 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It flew for the first time in February 1930 at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, piloted by Prévot. It was designed for routes such as those across the Mediterranean from France to Africa.
Variants
The sole prototype, F-AKDI, was the only one built.
Where you'll see it
It broke up in the air on 2 April 1930 while being demonstrated to a French Navy official, killing the pilot and his mechanic, which ended the programme.
Related aircraft
- Latécoère 380
- Latécoère 290
- Latécoère 350
- Latécoère 490
- DAR 4
- Dornier Do S
- Farman F.300
- Focke-Wulf A 32 Bussard
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