The Loire 46 was a French single-seater fighter aircraft of the 1930s. A high-winged monoplane designed and built by

Loire Aviation The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...

, it was purchased by the French Air Force. It was also supplied to the Spanish Republican forces during the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...

, but was almost out of service by the outbreak of World War II.

Design and development

The Loire 46 was an improved modification of two previous Loire fighters—the Loire 43 and 45. Although improved, it resembled the earlier machines retaining their gull mono-wing configuration, open cockpit, and fixed landing gear. The first of five prototype Loire 46s flew in September 1934. It demonstrated excellent handling characteristics and 60 production aircraft were ordered by the ''

Armée de l'Air The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Arm ...

''.

Operational history

The initial machines arrived at fighter Escadrilles in August 1936. In September 1936, the five prototype Loire 46s were sent to the Republican forces during the

.Taylor and Alexander 1969, pp. 106–107. By the beginning of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the Loire 46's gull wing configuration was recognized as obsolete and most of these fighters had been relegated to ''Armée de l'Air'' training schools, where they were used as advanced trainers. However, one fighter ''Escadrille'' was still equipped with the Loire 46 during the early weeks of the war. Their performance against modern German fighters was predictable.

Variants

;Loire 46.01 :First Loire 46 prototype. ;Loire 46 :Single-seat fighter/trainer aircraft.

Operators

; *'' Armee de l'Air'' ; * Spanish Republican Air Force

Specifications (Loire 46)

References

Bibliography

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External links

* {{Loire aircraft Loire 046 World War II French fighter aircraft 046 Single-engined tractor aircraft High-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1934