7024 LOIRE 210 'PROTOTYPE'

Loire 210 was a French fighter seaplane, which was flown in 1935, and during its production, about 20 machines of this type were created. The basic version of the plane was 9.51 meters long with a wingspan of 11.79 meters. The drive was provided by a single Hispano-Suiza 9Vbs engine with a maximum power of 720 HP. The maximum speed was 299 km / h, and the range - 750 kilometers. The deck armament consisted of four 7.5 mm Darne machine guns. The Loire 210 was developed for the needs of the French Navy, which in 1933 launched a tender for a fighter seaplane, capable of operating primarily from the catapults of its battleships. The design of the machines was based on the Loire 46, with a low wing system, metal structure and clearly added floats. The aircraft was finally approved for production, but it was not put into service until the beginning of 1939. During the course of the service it was revealed that the Loire 210 suffered from serious wing-related design problems which led to five air accidents during its first months of service. As a result, the planes were first grounded and then withdrawn from service in 1939. Production was stopped and has not resumed.