Paris to the French West Indies

Latécoère 521 Photo: Wikipedia

The Latécoère 521, "Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris", was a French six-engined flying boat, and one of the first large trans-Atlantic passenger aircraft.

The inaugural flight took place on 10 January 1935, followed by a demonstration flight in December 1935 via Dakar, North Africa to Natal, Brazil, then north to the French West Indies.

In June 1937 it flew non-stop to Natal before returning to France via the North Atlantic. On 30 December 1937 it set an FAI record carrying a payload of 18040 kg (39,770 lbs) to 2000 meters (6,562 ft) altitude at Biscarrosse, France. (The FAI Bulletin says it had six 650-hp (485-kw) engines at the time.)

In 1939 the XB-15 set a new landplane payload record: 14135 kg.

Equipped with more powerful engines, the aircraft made four further return flights to New York between May and July 1939.

The aircraft could transport 72 passengers in a great comfort. On the lower level there was a salon with 20 armchairs and tables, six deluxe double cabins, each with its own bathroom, seating for a further 22 passengers, a kitchen, a bar and a baggage hold. The upper level had seating for 18 passengers, a storage compartment and an office for the three flight engineers.

General characteristics
    Crew: 5 + cabin crew
    Capacity: 30-72
    Length: 31.62 m (103 ft 9 in)
    Wingspan: 49.3 m (161 ft 9 in)
    Height: 9.07 m (29 ft 9 in)
    Wing area: 330 m2 (3,600 sq ft) + 53m² (570.5ft²) for the sponsons / lower wings
    Empty weight: 18,882 kg (41,628 lb)
    Max takeoff weight: 40,000 kg (88,185 lb)

Performance
    Maximum speed: 261 km/h (162 mph; 141 kn) at 2,000m (6,562ft)
    Cruising speed: 210 km/h (130 mph; 113 kn)
    Minimum control speed: 100 km/h (62 mph; 54 kn)
    Range: 4,100 km (2,548 mi; 2,214 nmi)
    Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,669 ft)
    Rate of climb: 3.7 m/s (730 ft/min)
    Time to altitude: 2,000m in 9min


Source: Wikipedia