Latécoère
Latécoère 570
The Latécoère 570 was a French transport and reconnaissance aircraft built by the Latécoère company in the late 1930s. Developed as a response to the French Air Ministry’s requirement for a multi‑role high‑altitude platform, the 570 first flew on 12 March 1939 from the company's Toulouse plant. Its all‑metal low‑wing monoplane design incorporated a retractable undercarriage, a fully enclosed cockpit for a crew of two, and a spacious cargo bay that could be fitted with photographic equipment for aerial survey missions. Powered by two Hispano‑Saurel 14AB radial engines delivering 860 hp each, the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 425 km/h and a service ceiling of 9,500 m, granting it a range of over 2,200 km. Although only a handful of prototypes were completed before the German invasion halted production, the Latécoère 570 demonstrated innovative construction techniques such as stressed‑skin wings and integrated fuel tanks that influenced post‑war French transport designs. Its brief operational life nonetheless highlighted the strategic importance of versatile, long‑range platforms and cemented Latécoère’s reputation as a forward‑looking aircraft manufacturer during a pivotal era of aviation development. The aircraft remains a celebrated example of pre‑war French ingenuity.
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Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1939