Lohner Type M

The Lohner M was a reconnaissance flying boat produced in Austria-Hungary during World War I.

Lohner M
Lohner M M.39 in flight on 23 February 1916, off Bavsic.
Role	Reconnaissance flying boat
National origin	Austro-Hungarian Empire
Manufacturer	Lohner
First flight	1914
Introduction	February 1914
Number built	15

Design

The Lohner M was a biplane flying boat with slightly backswept wings and the pilot and observer sat side-by-side in the cockpit. One version of the Type M, the "MkN", was designed as a mine-spotting plane.^[1]

Variants

M

(M1) Initial production aircraft powered by 85 hp (63 kW) Hiero 4-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine; 4 delivered to KuK Kriegsmarine (E.17 to E.21).

Mn

(M2) Second production batch; 5 delivered to KuK Kriegsmarine (E.33 to E.38).

Mk

A single M powered by 100 hp (75 kW) Mercedes D.I (M.31)

Mkn

Operational history

The Type Ms patrolled the Adriatic Sea from 1914 until spring 1915, but they were supplanted by the Lohner Type L. After 1915, the Type Ms were consigned to second-line duties, but remained in service until 1917.^[2]

Operators

 Austria-Hungary

• Austro-Hungarian Navy

Specifications (M E.17 to E.21)

Data from Windsock Datafile 127: Lohner Type M ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
• Length: 9.2 m (30 ft 2 in) overall

8.3 m (27 ft) hull only

• Upper wingspan: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
• Lower wingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
• Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 31 m² (330 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 580 kg (1,279 lb)
• Gross weight: 900 kg (1,984 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hiero 4-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 63 kW (85 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 90 km/h (56 mph, 49 kn)
• Range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi)
• Endurance: ca. 5 hours
• Service ceiling: 2,500 m (8,200 ft)
• Time to altitude:
  

500 m (1,600 ft) in 7.5 minutes

1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 25 minutes

Armament

• Guns: 1 × trainable machine gun for observer
• Bombs: 50 kg (110 lb) of bombs

See also

Related development

• Lohner L

Related lists

• List of maritime patrol aircraft
• List of flying boats and floatplanes
• List of World War I Central Powers aircraft

References

1. Heinz J. Nowarra, Bruce Robertson, and Peter G. Cooksley. Marine Aircraft of the 1914–1918 War. Letchworth, Herts, England: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1966. ISBN 0900435070
2. Haddow, George (2008). Windsock Datafile 127: Lohner Type M. Great Britain: Albatros Productions. ISBN 978-1-902207-97-1.