Latham 43

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Latham 42 and 43 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Latham 43 HB3 MDLot zoln.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Flying boat bomber | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = Latham | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = Aéronavale | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 28 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1924 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Latham 43''' was a flying boat bomber built in France in the 1920s for service with the French Navy. It was a conventional design for its day - a two-bay biplane with unstaggered wings, and engines mounted tractor-fashion on struts in the interplane gap. The pilot sat in an open cockpit, with a gunner in an open bow position, and another in an open position amidships.

Two examples, designated '''Latham 42''' powered by liquid-cooled Vee engines were evaluated by the navy in 1924, leading to a contract for 18 aircraft powered by air-cooled radial engines instead. Designated '''Latham 43''' by the manufacturer and '''HB.3''' in naval service (for ''Hydravion de bombardement'' - "Seaplane-bomber", 3 seats), they remained in service between 1926 and 1929.

Eight other machines with the original liquid-cooled engine were sold to Poland.

==Variants== * prototypes with Lorraine 12Da engines (2 built) * production version for France with Gnome et Rhône 9Aa engines (18 built) * production version for Poland with Lorraine engines (8 built)

==Operators== ;{{FRA}} *''Aéronavale'' **Escadrille 4R1 **Escadrille 5R1 ;{{POL}} *Polish Naval Aviation **''Morski Dywizjon Lotniczy'' based at Puck

==Specifications (French production version) == {{Aircraft specs |prime units? = met |crew=Three |length m=15.60 |length ft=61 |length in=2 |span m=22.50 |span ft=73 |span in=10 |height m=5.40 |height ft=17 |height in=9 |wing area sqm=125 |wing area sqft=1,345 |empty weight kg=3,460 |empty weight lb=7,610 |gross weight kg=5,390 |gross weight lb=11,860 |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Gnome et Rhône 9Aa |eng1 kw=280 |eng1 hp=380 |max speed kmh=160 |max speed mph=100 |range km=800 |range miles=500 |ceiling m=4,600 |ceiling ft=15,100 |armament = *1 × trainable .303 machine gun in open position in bow *1 × trainable .303 machine gun in open position amidships *400 kg (880 lb) of bombs }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= * List of Interwar military aircraft }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book |last1=Nelcarz|first1=Bartolomiej|last2=Peczkowski|first2=Robert|name-list-style=amp |title=White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918–1939|location=Ottringham, UK |publisher=Hikoki Publications |year=2001|isbn=1-902109-73-2}} *{{cite journal |last1=Passingham|first1=Malcolm|title=Latham's 'Boats: Pictorial History of the Designs of Jean Latham |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=November–December 1999|issue=84|pages=22–27 |issn=0143-5450}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=568 }} * {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 900 Sheet 2 }}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.aviafrance.com/2453.htm aviafrance.com]

Category:Latham aircraft Category:1920s French bomber aircraft Category:Flying boats Category:Biplanes Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1924