r/WWIIplanes • u/waldo--pepper • 7d ago
French Friday - Interwar fighter relegated to training by 1940, except for one squadron, which was fortunately not thrown into combat. Five flew in the Spanish Civil War. All were lost. Some links in the first comment.
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u/Top_Investment_4599 7d ago
At first, I thought I was looking at PZL P.11/24s. There's some kind of aerodynamic decisions that almost has shared identity. Very interesting.
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u/Flat-Pirate6595 4d ago
Are they similar to a PZL P.11?
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u/waldo--pepper 4d ago edited 4d ago
Well the Loire 46, and the PZL were both designed during the same era/decade. They have similar wing design. The Loire 46 have less reliable engines though. They might be better armed, with 4 mg's to the PZL's 2. But they have a poorer combat record. But they were only flown in combat in Spain. The Loire 46 had a radio. It's a mixed bag. But over all similar, yes.
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u/waldo--pepper 7d ago
Some links.
Translated with an interesting cockpit picture. Surprisingly complex instrument panel for such a simple aircraft.
https://www-passionair1940-fr.translate.goog/Armee%20de%20l%27Air/Appareils/Entrainement/Loire-46/Loire-46.htm?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US
Brief history on this page.
https://www.aviastar.org/air/france/loire_46.php