Latécoère
Latécoère 17
The Latécoère 17 was a French single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane developed in the mid‑1920s by the aircraft builder Latécoère. Conceived as a fast mail and reconnaissance platform for the burgeoning airmail routes across North Africa and the Mediterranean, the 17 first flew in 1925 and entered service with the Société Générale de Transports Aériens (SGTA), the predecessor of Aéropostale. Its wooden frame was covered with fabric, and it was powered by a 300 hp Hispano‑Salamanca 12Nbr V‑12 engine driving a two‑bladed propeller, giving a top speed near 250 km/h and a range of roughly 1 000 km. The aircraft featured an open cockpit for the pilot and a separate cabin for a payload of up to 250 kg of mail or a light observer‑gunner, with optional radio equipment for navigation. The Latécoère 17’s reliability and modest payload made it a workhorse for early long‑distance postal flights, contributing to the establishment of regular air links between France, Spain, and colonial outposts. Its operational success demonstrated the feasibility of commercial air transport in harsh environments and paved the way for more advanced designs such as the Latécoère 28, cementing Latécoère’s reputation as a pioneer of intercontinental aviation.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 18
- First Flight
- 1923