Lohner L
 | This article includes alist of references,related reading,orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations.(January 2015) |
| Lohner L | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnaissanceflying boat |
| National origin | Austria-Hungary |
| Manufacturer | Lohner,UFAG,Hansa-Brandenburg,Macchi |
| First flight | ca. 1915 |
| Number built | >100 |
TheLohner Lwas areconnaissanceflying boatproduced in Austria-Hungary duringWorld War I.It was a two-baybiplaneof typical configuration for the flying boats of the day, with itspusherengine mounted on struts in the interplane gap. The pilot and observer sat side by side in an opencockpit,and both the upper and lower sets of wings featuredsweepback.
Development
[edit]The design was essentially a more powerful version of theLohner E,and became highly influential. Apart from licensed production byUFAG,the L provided the basis for designs by other major manufacturers. InGermany,Hansa-Brandenburgmanufactured a modified version of it as their first flying boat, theBrandenburg FB,and in Italy, a captured example was used as a pattern aircraft byMacchi,who produced it as theL.1.In turn, the L.1 would provide the foundation for a large number of Macchi designs over the coming years.
The captured aircraft (serial L.40) was taken intact near the naval air station ofPorto Corsini.The captured flying boat was copied by Macchi-Nieuport and the L.1 was built within a month. The L.1s were delivered to Italian maritime reconnaissance and bombing units based on the Adriatic. An improved version was developed as theMacchi L.2
A restored example of an Austro-Hungarian Lohner L (serial L.127) is preserved at theItalian Air Force MuseumatVigna di Valle.
This model appears in the film Porco Rosso, by Studio Ghibli in 1992
Operational history
[edit]Lohner seaplanes saw extensive use before and during World War I, and those aircraft that survived the war served for several years. Some important and interesting events are related, such as:
- Immediately after the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on Serbia and Montenegro, from 28 July 1914 to 2 August 1914,Lohner Lseaplanes fromKumborpatrolled and photographed the Montenegrin artillery positions, representing the first use of aircraft in World War I.
- On 16 September 1915Lohner L 132piloted by a Lieutenant Commander Dimitrije Konjović andLohner L 135piloted by Walter Železni, on regular reconnaissance missions offCattarofound the FrenchBrumaire-class submarineFoucaultand attacked it with bombs. The submarine was damaged in the attack and was abandoned by her crew. One Lohner flying boat landed at sea, captured two French officers and transported them to Kumbor. The other members of the crew were rescued by an Austro-Hungarian torpedo boat. This was the first sinking of a submarine from the air in the history of aviation.
Variants
[edit]- Lohner L
- Lohner R- Photo-reconnaissance version
- Lohner S- Trainer version
- Macchi L.1- with Fiat machine gun andIsotta-Fraschini V.4aengine (14 built)
Operators
[edit]
- Regia Marina(Macchi L.1)
- Yugoslav Royal Navy- 4 aircraftLohner TL
Specifications (Lohner L)
[edit]
General characteristics
- Crew:two, pilot and observer
- Length:10.26 m (33 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan:16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)
- Height:3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
- Wing area:53 m2(570 sq ft)
- Empty weight:1,150 kg (2,535 lb)
- Gross weight:1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
- Powerplant:1 ×Austro-Daimler 160hp 6-cyl.water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
- Propellers:2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed:105 km/h (65 mph, 57 kn)
- Range:600 km (370 mi, 320 nmi)
- Service ceiling:2,500 m (8,200 ft)
- Wing loading:32.0 kg/m2(6.6 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass:0.070 kW/kg (0.043 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns:1 × trainable machine gun for observer
- Bombs:200 kg (440 lb) of bombs
See also
[edit]Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of maritime patrol aircraft
- List of flying boats and floatplanes
- List of World War I Central Powers aircraft
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions. p. 611.
- World Aircraft Information Files.London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 900 Sheet 20.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985).Orbis Publishing. p. 2392.
- Јанић, Чедомир (2003).Век авијације - [илустрована хронологија](in Serbian). Беочин: Ефект 1.COBISS110428172.
Further reading
[edit]
- Alegi, Gregory (2003).Lohner Tl/Macchi L 1.Windsock Datafile. Vol. 99. Berkhamsted, UK: Albatros Productions.ISBN1-902207-54-8.
- Owers, Colin A. (2015).Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI: Volume 2–Biplane Seaplanes.Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 18. n.p.: Aeronaut Books.ISBN978-1-935881-32-2.