Levasseur PL.6

PL.6
Role	Fighter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Levasseur
First flight	1924
Number built	1

The Levasseur PL.6 was a two-seat fighter aircraft built in France in 1926 in order to meet an Aéronautique Militaire requirement for a new aircraft of this type,^[1] designated C2 (for Chasseur - "fighter", 2 seat). Constructed along the same lines as Levasseur's naval aircraft of the same era, it was a conventional, single-bay biplane with seating for the pilot and tail gunner in separate, open cockpits. Flight testing of the prototype commenced in 1926, and it was exhibited at the Salon de l'Aéronautique at the end of the year.^[2]

The PL.6 was evaluated against the Avimeta AVM-88, the ANF Les Mureaux 3 and 4, Blériot-SPAD S.60, Villiers Vil.24 and Wibault Wib.12. However, before any one of these was selected for production, the requirement was cancelled. No further PL.6s were built.^[1]

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and gunner
• Length: 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 12.20 m (40 ft 0 in)
• Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 40.0 m² (430 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,350 kg (2,980 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,175 kg (4,795 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hb, 370 kW (500 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 215 km/h (134 mph)
• Range: 700 km (435 miles)

Armament

• 2 × fixed, forward-firing .303 Vickers machine guns
• 2 × trainable, rearward-firing .303 Lewis guns

Notes

1. Taylor 1989, 574
2. Flight 1926, 782

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• "The Paris Aero Show 1926". Flight: 782. 2 December 1926. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
• aviafrance.com