The Lioré et Olivier LéO 21 was based on the earlier LéO 20 night bomber. First flown in August 1929 the LéO 21 was a twin-engined biplane airliner with a fixed tailskid landing gear. It retained the basic structure of the LéO 20 night bomber but with a new wider fuselage. It had room for six passengers in a nose cabin and a further 12 passengers in the main cabin with an open cockpit for the pilot.
The second LéO 21 was fitted with two 450 hp (336 kW) Renault 12Ja engines and re-designated as a LéO 212. It was converted by the Wagons-Lits company as a dining aircraft. The first LéO 21 became an avion-bar in 1929 and was re-designated LéO 211; it was later modified in 1931 with Renault engines as the LéO 213.
One aircraft was produced as the LéO 21S fitted as a 10-stretcher ambulance.
The first production LéO 213 was built in 1928 and a total of eleven were built and operated by Air Union on routes from Paris to London, Lyons, Marseilles and Geneva. The LéO 213 had an increased wingspan, improved sound proofing and three baggage holds. When modified for night services they were re-designated as LéO 213N.
Operated by Air Union circa 1929. Air France replaced its LeO 21 biplanes with a fleet of Wibault 282s, which in turn gave way to Bloch 220s.
On 25 July 1930, LeO 21 F-AIZO Golden Ray/Rayon d’Or of Air Union made a forced landing at Snave, Kent following an engine failure. The aircraft was subsequently dismantled and removed to Hythe, Kent.
The Spanish Republican Air Force operated Lioré et Olivier 213.
Liore & Olivier LeO 213 Article
In 1934 all the surviving LéO 213s were bought by the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) and were converted to transports for 14-troops on bench seats and re-designated LéO 214.
Variants:
LeO 21
Prototype
Engines: 2 x 310 kW (420 hp) Gnome & Rhône 9Ab Jupiter
LeO 211
First prototype modified
LeO 212
Second prototype
Engines: 2 x 340 kW (450 hp) Renault 12Ja
LeO 213 / LéO 213N
Production version
Engine: Renault 12Ja
LeO 214
Armée de l’Air conversions from LéO 213
Powerplant: 2 × Renault 12Ja, 336 kW (450 hp)
Wingspan: 23.03 m (75 ft 6.75 in)
Wing area: 108 m2 (1,162.54 sq ft)
Length: 15.55 m (51 ft 0.25 in)
Height: 4.50 m (14 ft 9.25 in)
Empty weight: 3,440 kg (7,584 lb)
Gross weight: 5,700 kg (12,566 lb)
Maximum speed: 190 km/h (118 mph, 103 kn)
Range: 560 km (348 mi, 302 nmi)
Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,765 ft)
Crew: 1
Capacity: 14 troops
LeO 21S
Air ambulance, one built.
All Aero 