Loire Aviation Loire 70
Loire Aviation · France · first flew 1933 · transport aircraft
The Loire 70 was a large French maritime patrol and transport flying boat built by Loire Aviation and first flown in 1933. Its parasol wing and three radial engines gave it a characteristic interwar appearance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.48 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large trimotor French flying boat of the 1930s
- High parasol-mounted wing above the hull
- Three radial engines on the wing leading edge
Distinguished by its large boat hull, high parasol wing strut-braced above the fuselage, and three radial engines arranged along the wing; twin floats under the outer wings provide lateral stability on water.
Specifications
- The Loire Aviation Loire 70 has a length of 19.48 m (64 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 30 m (98 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 235 km/h (146 mph).
- Typical crew: 4-5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to meet French naval requirements for a long-range maritime patrol aircraft, the Loire 70 was evaluated by the Aéronavale in the mid-1930s. It competed against other French flying boat designs of the era but did not achieve large-scale production. The type reflected Loire's experience with seaplane construction.
Variants
A small number of prototype and pre-series aircraft were built; no major production variants are recorded.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the French Navy (Aéronavale) in the 1930s but saw only very limited operational use; not exported.
Related aircraft
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