Levasseur PL.2

{{Short description|French biplane torpedo bomber}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Levasseur PL.2 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Levasseur PL-2.jpg | alt = | caption = Levasseur PL.2, June 1926 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Torpedo-bomber biplane | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = | manufacturer = Levasseur | design_group = | designer = Pierre Levasseur | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = French Navy | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 11 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1922-1923 | introduction = 1926 | retired = 1932 | first_flight = November 1922 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Levasseur PL.2''' was a French biplane torpedo bomber designed by Pierre Levasseur for the French Navy. {{TOC limit|limit=2}}

==Design and development== The second design of Pierre Levasseur was the PL.2, a single-seat unequal-span biplane inspired by designs from Blackburn Aircraft. It had a fixed tailskid landing gear and was powered by a nose-mounted Renault engine. The first of two prototypes first flew in November 1922. The second aircraft had a four-bladed propeller and other powerplant improvements. Nine production aircraft were built in 1923, these were fitted with ballonets and jettisonable landing gear for operations at sea.<ref>Taylor and Alexander 1969, pp. 102-103.</ref>

==Operational history== The aircraft entered service in 1926 aboard the French aircraft carrier ''Béarn'' and continued in use until they were scrapped in 1932.

==Variants== *'''PL 2 AT-01''' : First torpedo-bomber prototype. *'''PL 2 AT-02''' : Second prototype, equipped with a four-blade propeller. *'''PL.2''' : Single-seat torpedo-bomber aircraft, nine built for the French Navy.

==Operators== ;{{FRA}} *French Navy **Escadrille 7B2

==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref=''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft''<ref>''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft'' (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing. 1985, pp. 2317–2318.</ref> |prime units? = met |crew=1 |length m=14.9 |length ft=49 |length in=8.50 |span m=15.15 |span ft=49 |span in=8.5 |height m=3.9 |height ft=13 |height in=3.25 |gross weight kg=3,653 |gross weight lb=8,053 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Renault 12Ma |eng1 kw=433 |eng1 hp=580 |max speed kmh=180 |max speed mph=112 |range km=700 |range miles=435 |ceiling m=2454 |ceiling ft=8,052 |armament = *1 x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine-gun *450Kg (992lb) Torpedo or bombs }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |sequence= |lists= }}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{commons category|Levasseur PL.2}} {{Refbegin}} *Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander. ''Combat Aircraft of the World.'' New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. {{ISBN|0-71810-564-8}}. *Taylor, Michael J. H. ''Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation''. London: Studio Editions, 1989. {{ISBN|0-517-69186-8}}. {{Refend}}

Levasseur PL.02 Category:Carrier-based aircraft Category:Levasseur aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1922