Gourdou-Leseurre GL-812 HY explained
The Gourdou-Leseurre GL-812 HY was a 3-seat reconnaissance floatplane, built by Gourdou-Leseurre.
Development
The prototype, called L-2, was built in 1926-27. It has a steel tube fuselage, and rectangular wooden wing. The tail was two fins, one above and one below the fuselage. The entire plane was fabric covered, except the Gnome-Rhône 9A Jupiter engine, which was left uncowled. The prototype was flown to Copenhagen, and demonstrated there to several countries.
Six prototype L-3s were constructed. They had a larger Jupiter, steel spars instead of wood, and stronger struts, allowing for shipboard catapult launching. After successfully testing the L-3, the French navy ordered 14 production GL-810 HY aircraft. The first production 810 HY flew on 23 September 1930, taking off from the Seine at Les Mureaux. In 1931, 20 GL-811 HYs were ordered, for operation from the seaplane carrier Commandant Teste and from 1933 to 1934 twenty-nine GL-812 HYs and thirteen GL-813 HYs were ordered.
Variants
- Gourdou-Leseurre L-2
The initial prototype of the catapult-launched floatplane observation aircraft.
- Gourdou-Leseurre L-3
Six prototype development aircraft with revised structure.
- Gourdou-Leseurre GL-810 HY
Initial production - 24 produced for Aeronavale.[1]
- Gourdou-Leseurre GL-811 HY
Developed version - 20 built from 1931.[2]
- Gourdou-Leseurre GL-812 HY
29 built 1933-34.[3]
- Gourdou-Leseurre GL-813 HY
13 built.[4] Operators
Units using this aircraft
- Escadrille 7S2 (Commandant Teste)
- Escadrille 7S3 (spread among various cruisers)
- Escadrilles 1S1, 2S1, 2S4, 3S1, 3S2, 3S3, 3S6, 8S2, 8S5.
While most aircraft had been retired by 1939, that August the remaining aircraft were brought together to re-equip the recently re-activated and mobilized Escadrilles 1S2 and 3S3 at Cherbourg and Berre-l'Étang, respectively and perform coastal anti-submarine patrols.
Bibliography
- Cortet. Pierre. Rétros du Mois. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire . June 2000 . 87 . 6 . Retros of the Month. fr . 1243-8650.
- Encyclopedia: Donald, David . The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft . 463 . Prospero Books . 1997 . 1-85605-375-X .
Notes and References
- Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Gourdou Leseurre GL-810 HY . Aviafrance . 2 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 2 August 2001.
- Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Gourdou Leseurre GL-811 HY . Aviafrance . 2 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 4 August 2001.
- Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Gourdou Leseurre GL-812 HY . Aviafrance . 2 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 2 August 2001.
- Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Gourdou Leseurre GL-813 HY . Aviafrance . 2 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 4 August 2001.
