Loire 210
Loire Aviation · France · first flew 1935 · fighter
The Loire 210 was a French single-seat seaplane fighter developed in the mid-1930s for the Aéronavale. It featured an inverted gull wing and a single central float arrangement for water operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.51 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French seaplane fighter with central float
- Gull-wing monoplane configuration for propeller clearance
- Designed for Aéronavale carrier/seaplane fighter role
Gull-wing single-engine seaplane fighter with a large central main float and small stabilising wingtip floats. The inverted gull wing is the most distinctive feature, giving it a characteristic bent-wing silhouette.
Specifications
- The Loire 210 has a length of 9.51 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.79 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 299 km/h (186 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Loire Aviation responded to a 1933 French Navy requirement for a seaplane fighter. The Loire 210 won the competition over rivals and entered limited service in 1938. It suffered from handling problems and was underpowered relative to contemporary land-based fighters. Only 20 were produced and they saw little combat use before the Fall of France in 1940.
Variants
The Loire 210 was produced as a single production variant; no significant modifications were made to the airframe during its brief service life.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the French Aéronavale from around 1938 to 1940. Based at Berre seaplane station and briefly in North Africa. The fleet was lost or destroyed following the French armistice of June 1940.
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