Levasseur PL.7

{{Infobox aircraft | name = PL.7 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Levasseur PL.7 Annuaire de L'Aéronautique 1931.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Carrier-borne torpedo bomber | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = Levasseur | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = Aéronavale | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 46 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = July 1930 | retired = | first_flight = August 1928 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Levasseur PL.7''' was a torpedo bomber developed in France in the late 1920s.<ref name="Jane's"/> It was a development of Levasseur's PL.4 reconnaissance aircraft and intended to replace their PL.2 then in service with the Aéronavale. It was a single-bay biplane of largely conventional design, but incorporating safety features for naval operation, including jetissonable main undercarriage units, a watertight, boat-shaped fuselage, and small floats on the undersides of the lower wings.<ref name="Jane's">{{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London|pages=574–575 }}</ref>

== History == [[File:Bearn_(1927).jpg|thumb|A PL.7 taking off from the French aircraft carrier ''Béarn'']] The first flight was in 1928, and during testing, aspects of the design underwent fine-tuning, including engine choice and the design of the wing struts and tail fin. Eventually presented to the Navy, an order for 15 aircraft was placed in 1929. However, the Navy had reservations about the wing design, and ordered five of these machines to be delivered with their spans shortened from the {{convert|18.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}} original down to {{convert|16.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and built to different wing areas, and a sixth machine with its span shortened to {{convert|17.25|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WAIF">{{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files:File 900 Sheet 06 |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London }}</ref> These miscellaneous types were all put into service together aboard the carrier ''Béarn'' in July 1930. After testing, one of the 16.50 m wing designs was selected as the standard, and 30 new aircraft were ordered with this wing. Ten of the existing PL.7s were also thus modified.<ref name="WAIF"/>

The PL.7s were grounded in July 1931 after two aircraft had disintegrated in flight,<ref name="Jane's"/> losses that were attributed to vibration problems.<ref name="WAIF"/> They were returned to service in September 1932 having reinforced wing bracing and engine mounts, and new three-bladed metal propellers. In 1934, they were relegated to shore duties, but were put aboard the ''Béarn'' again in 1936, where they were still in service (albeit now thoroughly obsolete) at the outbreak of the Second World War.<ref name="Jane's"/>

Levasseur displayed an aircraft at the 1926 ''Salon de l'Aéronautique'' dubbed the '''PL.7T''' (for "transport") and promoted as an airliner. This was fitted with a Gnome et Rhône 9A Jupiter engine and had a revised fuselage with side-by-side seating for a pilot and mechanic and an enclosed cabin for six passengers.<ref name="Flight">{{cite journal |title=The Paris Aero Show 1926 |journal=Flight |date=2 December 1926 |page=782 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1926/1926%20-%200882.html |access-date=2008-09-21}}</ref> This, however, was merely a PL.4 specially modified for the show. It was scrapped immediately afterward, never having flown.<ref name="WAIF"/>

==Variants== ;PL.7 (18.5m span):{{cvt|18.5|m}} span, Farman 12We powered; 1built.<ref name="afpl7"/> ;PL.7 (18m span):{{cvt|18|m}} span, Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr powered; 9 built.<ref name="afpl718">{{cite web| last1=Parmentier| first1=Bruno| title=Levasseur PL 7 18m| url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=9435&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=816&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=| website=Aviafrance| access-date=18 February 2018|location=Paris|language=fr|date=12 December 2001}}</ref> ;PL.7 (17.25m span):{{cvt|17.25|m}} span, Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr powered; 1 built.<ref name="afpl717.25">{{cite web| last1=Parmentier| first1=Bruno| title=Levasseur PL 7 17.25m| url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=9436&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=816&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=| website=Aviafrance| access-date=18 February 2018|location=Paris|language=fr|date=12 December 2001}}</ref> ;PL.7 (16.5m span):{{cvt|16.5|m}} span, Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr powered; 40 built / converted from PL.7 (18m).<ref name="afpl716.5">{{cite web| last1=Parmentier| first1=Bruno| title=Levasseur PL 7 16.5m| url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7550&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=816&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=| website=Aviafrance| access-date=18 February 2018|location=Paris|language=fr|date=12 December 2001}}</ref> ;PL.7T: (also known as '''Levasseur VIIT''') An airliner derivative exhibited at the 1926 Salon de l'Aéronautique, with side-by-side seating for a pilot and mechanic and enclosed cabin for six passengers, powered by a Gnome et Rhône 9A Jupiter.<ref name="Flight"/>

==Operators== ;{{FRA}} * Aéronavale ** Escadrille 7B1

==Specifications (PL.7 18.5m span)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928,<ref name=JAWA1928>{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928 |editor1-last=Grey |editor1-first=C.G. |year=1928 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd |location=London |page=107c}}</ref> Aviafrance:Levasseur PL 7<ref name="afpl7">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=Levasseur PL 7|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=9434&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=816&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|access-date=18 February 2018|location=Paris|language=fr|date=12 December 2001}}</ref> |prime units?=met  |crew=3 |length m=11.68 |upper span m=18.5 |lower span m=13.6 |width m=14.2 |width note=upper wing-tips folded |height m=4.9 |wing area sqm=77.5 |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=2800 |gross weight kg=3650 |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |lift kg= |lift lb= |lift note= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Farman 12We |eng1 type=W-12 water-cooled piston engine |eng1 hp=550

|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=  |max speed kmh=170 |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km=645 |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=2900 |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude=5 hours |wing loading kg/m2=47.1 |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |more performance=  |guns= 2 × trainable, rearward-firing machine guns in rear cockpit |bombs= 1 × {{cvt|400|mm}} or {{cvt|450|mm}} torpedo }}

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

==References== {{commons category|Levasseur PL.7}} {{reflist}}

Levasseur PL.07 Category:Carrier-based aircraft Category:Levasseur aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 1928 Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear