TheLohner L was areconnaissanceflying boat produced in Austria-Hungary duringWorld War I. It was a two-baybiplane of typical configuration for the flying boats of the day, with itspusher engine mounted on struts in the interplane gap. The pilot and observer sat side by side in an opencockpit, and both the upper and lower sets of wings featuredsweepback.
The design was essentially a more powerful version of theLohner E, and became highly influential. Apart from licensed production byUFAG, the L provided the basis for designs by other major manufacturers. InGermany,Hansa-Brandenburg manufactured a modified version of it as their first flying boat, theBrandenburg FB [de], and in Italy, a captured example was used as a pattern aircraft byMacchi, who produced it as theL.1. In turn, the L.1 would provide the foundation for a large number of Macchi designs over the coming years.
The captured aircraft (serial L.40) was taken intact near the naval air station ofPorto Corsini. The captured flying boat was copied by Macchi-Nieuport and the L.1 was built within a month. The L.1s were delivered to Italian maritime reconnaissance and bombing units based on the Adriatic. An improved version was developed as theMacchi L.2
Lohner seaplanes saw extensive use before and during World War I, and those aircraft that survived the war served for several years. Some important and interesting events are related, such as:
Immediately after the declaration of war by Austria-Hungary on Serbia and Montenegro, from 28 July 1914 to 2 August 1914,Lohner L seaplanes fromKumbor patrolled and photographed the Montenegrin artillery positions, representing the first use of aircraft in World War I.
On 16 September 1915Lohner L 132 piloted by a Lieutenant CommanderDimitrije Konjović andLohner L 135 piloted by Walter Železni, on regular reconnaissance missions offCattaro found the FrenchBrumaire-class submarineFoucault and attacked it with bombs. The submarine was damaged in the attack and was abandoned by her crew. One Lohner flying boat landed at sea, captured two French officers and transported them to Kumbor. The other members of the crew were rescued by an Austro-Hungarian torpedo boat. This was the first sinking of a submarine from the air in the history of aviation.
Owers, Colin A. (2015).Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI: Volume 2–Biplane Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 18. n.p.: Aeronaut Books.ISBN978-1-935881-32-2.
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