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Seaplanes

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Technical Specifications

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Production

96 aircrafts, all versions, were manufactured.

Version	Nber of Ex
GL- L-2	1
GL L-3	6
GL-810 HY	24
GL-811 HY	20
GL-812 HY	29
GL-813 HY	13
GL-820 HY	1
GL-821 HY Torpilleur	1
GL-821 O2	1

To date, out of the 96 aircraft manufactured for Naval Aviation, 45 are listed in the list below:

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Historical

In 1926, Gourdou-Leseurre, based in Saint Maur des Fossés near Paris, studied and built a monoplane seaplane equipped with wooden catamaran floats. It is powered by a Gnome & Rhône Jupiter 9Aa, 9-cylinder radial engine, air-cooled built under Bristol license. It delivers 380 hp and is equipped with a two-blade wooden propeller. The aircraft is designated "L-2".
The fuselage consists of a welded tubular structure covered with canvas.

The drift takes again the drawing "Gourdou-Leseurre" and is implanted on both sides of the fuselage, thus forming two triangles.

The low wings are wooden covered with canvases and can be dismantled in 5 minutes.
Its weaponry consists of two Vickers machine guns of 7.7 mm synchronized on the hood, and two other Vickers of 7.7mm mounted on mobile watch and served by the gunner at the extreme post rear. The aircraft is triplace: Pilot / Observer and gunner are distributed along the fuselage in separate positions.

After a first flight on the Seine, near his production site, he brilliantly performs his tests at the CEPA and will, later, used for demonstrations in many countries. The "L-2" will be reformed in 1928, but the conquered Navy will command 6 other aircraft called "L-3".
These are very close to L-2. They are now powered by a Gnôme & Rhône 9Ac of 420 Cv, and their structure has been reinforced by steel profiles, to allow catapulting without risk.
Note that the first catapult with one of these aircrafts, in Saint-Nazaire, will be ... without a pilot.
These 6 copies have confirmed the favorable opinion of the Navy on the aircraft and an order of 24 copies is launched under the designation GL-810 HY. These aircraft are intended for Observation and Reconnaissance.

The engine is a Gnome and Rhone 9 Ady, 420 hp. Changes from L-3 are minor. The floats are lengthened by 69 centimeters and the drift is enlarged to improve the stability. And curiously, the observer now occupies the back seat, this does not facilitate the rear defense.
The hood armament is reduced to a Vickers machine gun of 7.7mm, but the aircraft can carry now 2 bombs of 75kg. The first flight takes place on September 23, 1930

This series was followed in 1931 by another 20 copies called GL-811 HY, intended to be shipped on the aircraft carrier: Commander Teste. The more advanced GL-811 HY boasts Radio equipment, folding wings, dual controls and a marine rudder, mounted on one of the floats to promote maneuverability at sea.

In 1933, appear the GL-812 HY. Ordered at 39 copies, they are equipped with a larger fin and rounded shape. The wooden propeller is abandoned in favor of a metal propeller, always two-bladed. The following GL-813 HY version will be very close, and will bring only double-controls and folding wings. 13 copies will be made ..

From 1935, all the previous versions, will be put back to the standard of the versions GL-812 or GL-813 HY

After the arrival of more modern seaplanes such as the Loire 130, the units in service will be gradually withdrawn from the service and will be used in easement tasks. The last recorded flight of a GL-812 dates from March 1945

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Versions

Version	Date of the 1st flight	Quick description
GL- L-2	September 23, 1930	Prototype equipped with a Radial Gnôme & Rhône Jupiter 9Aa engine, 9 cylinders of 380 Cv. The armament consists of 2 Vickers of 7.7mm on hood and 2 others on mobile stand at the rear station
GL L-3		Version powered by a Gnôme & Rhone 9Ac of 420 Cv. The structure is renored by steel rails to allow catapulting
GL-810 HY	September 23, 1930	Version powered by a Gnôme & Rhône 9Ady of 420 Cv. Floats enlarged by 69cm. The observer is moved to the rear station and the hood armament is reduced to a machine gun.
GL-811 HY	March 18, 1932	With folding wings, Radio equipment and dual-controls. Version intended to be shipped on the seaplane carrier : "Commander Teste"
GL-812 HY	November 29, 1933	Drift version of rounded and enlarged shape. The wooden propeller is replaced by a metal propeller, always two-bladed.
GL-813 HY	October 22, 1934	Version close to the GL-812, equipped with folding wings and double-control
GL-820 HY	May 13, 1935	Four-seater with rounded vertical AR plane, Hispano-Suiza 9Vb 730 hp engine, 1 7.5 mm Darne machine gun in the right wing and 2 rear mobile Lewis, 300 kg of bombs.
GL-821 HY Torpilleur	28 January 28, 1936	Four-seater Motorized with a Gnome & Rhône 9Kfr 750 hp, 1 machine gun Darne 7.5 mm in the right wing and 2 Lewis mobile back, 1 torpedo.
GL-821 O2	October 1937	It has a closed cab and a three-blade propeller. He carries 300 kg of bombs.

 

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Bibliography

Revue "ICARE No230" : Les Avionneurs Charles Gourdou & Jean Leseurre

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Photos Album

 

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Drawing 3 views