Lumière-de Monge Racer
Établissements Lumière · France · first flew 1921 · light aircraft
The Lumière-de Monge racer was built to compete in the 1921 Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe. It was unusual in being a high-wing monoplane that could be rapidly converted into a biplane.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High wing mounted on a long streamlined pylon that includes the pilot's cabin
- Removable smaller lower wing allowing conversion to a biplane
- Closely cowled V-8 engine with a cylindrical radiator mounted above the upper wing
Look for a streamlined racer with a trapezoidal high wing on a tall pylon, a rounded fuselage tapering to the tail and a radiator above the wing.
Specifications
- The Lumière-de Monge Racer has a length of 7 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8 m (26 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Louis de Monge, it was wooden and fabric covered, with a 300 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 engine. Its exact first flight date is not known, but Bernard de Romanet flew it at Orly before mid-July 1921.
Variants
Only one was built. It could fly as a monoplane or with a lower wing of three-quarters of the upper span fitted to make a biplane.
Where you'll see it
On 23 September 1921 de Romanet flew it as a monoplane for the first time. The fabric covering of one wing peeled away and he was killed, so the racer never took part in the race.
Related aircraft
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