Gourdou-Leseurre GL-21

10/31/2011. With the end of WW I, Charles Gourdou and Jean Leseurre established their own company at St Maur les Fosses, continuing development of the GL-2 fighter monoplane as the GL-21 (Type B2), the prototype of which was exhibited at the Paris Salon de l'Aeronautique of 1920.

The GL-21, like its predecessors, was powered by the 180 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ab eight-cylinder water-cooled in-line V-engine, but the broad chord ailerons with their horn-balance areas lying within the wing planform were replaced by longer-span and narrower constant-chord ailerons. The rudder was enlarged and the series model introduced additional undercarriage bracing struts. Armament comprised two 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machineguns in the fuselage.

One GL-21 was purchased by Finland in 1923, followed by a further eighteen in 1924, an additional aircraft later being assembled in Finland from spares, and these remained in Finnish service until 1931. A total of 30 single-seat fighters of this type was built.