Main menu	Larger image	Next Braas photo Braas menu
02/28/2008. The LeO H-246 was a four-engined flying boat that could carry 23 passengers and registered as F-AOUJ it flew for the first time on September 30, 1937. Flight trials were so successful, that before they were completed, six production aircraft (F-AREI to F-AERN, c/n 2 to 7) were ordered by Air France on January 31, 1938. Designated H-246.1 they were constructed by SNCASE (Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Est) into which Lioré et Olivier was absorbed late 1937, and the first was registered to the airline on February 13, 1939. The prototype was brought up to production standard and also delivered to Air France. The French Navy demanded four LeO H246.1s, but only one was delivered before hostilities in France began. The F-AREI, F-AREL and F-AREM were seized by the German forces, given defensive armament, and were coded respectively "24+62", "AE+HC" and "A3+KC". In the summer of 1944 they were loaned briefly to the Finnsih AF. In all only two aircraft survived WW II, F-AREJ and F-AREL, and were used again by Air France.