Aviation History Ch. 6 Section C

What was one of the most influential airlines in the late 1920s that started in France?

Societe des Lignes Latecoere
Founded as airmail service
Started airmail service between France and South America
Its aircraft evolved from fragile WW1 biplanes into long-range monoplanes designed by its own manufacturing arm

Experimental flight from St. Louis, Senegal to Natal, Brazil

Demonstrated the aerial possibilities of service across the South Atlantic
Proved the reliable power and long range of the late mail plane
Latecoere 25 and _____

Where did Aeropostale operate?

All over South America
Carried 32 million letters on three continents
Strong government support- subsidies/contracts

Who had the longest line of airmail routes in the world

Aeropostale

Why did France merge all five of its airlines into one? What was it called?

Fragmented, competing airlines could not survive the Great Depression
Became known as Air France

What did the Deutsche Luft Hansa do? What is it?

German National Airline
Made it compulsory for transport pilots to be instrument rated
Began installing radios on large transport planes
Flew more miles than Aeropostale due to numerous routes throughout Europe

What was used to launch the Luft Hansa from the Bremen?

A catapult
Reduced the amount of fuel needed
Allowed planes to carry more cargo or fuel
Proved to save very little time as the planes departed only 300 miles from the destination