Lioré et Olivier LeO H-23
Lioré et Olivier · France · first flew 1930 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Lioré et Olivier LeO H-23 was a French military flying boat, primarily intended for coastal reconnaissance, though able to carry a small bomb load. Only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Amphibious flying boat with a cantilever high wing mounted on top of the hull
- Single tractor V-12 engine strut-mounted high above the wing in a long tapered cowling
- Unstepped metal floats on two pairs of parallel struts at the ends of the wing centre section
It had a large open nose position for an observer or bombardier, and an enclosed cockpit with two side-by-side seats just ahead of the wing leading edge. The 600 hp engine had its honeycomb radiator immediately behind the propeller.
Specifications
- The Lioré et Olivier LeO H-23 has a length of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.7 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two prototypes were funded by the government but only one was built. It first flew in early June 1930, piloted by Bourdin at Villacoublay, and was then flown off the sea at Saint-Raphaël.
Variants
There were no variants: only one was built.
Where you'll see it
It was judged worth further testing and, after hull modifications, went to Bizerte in Tunisia for evaluation. It was lost in an accident after 83 hours of flying.
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