was immediately behind the pilot's and further aft the fuselage tapered to the tail, where a narrow chord, variable incidence tailplane was mounted on its top. All the rear surfaces were aluminium framed and fabric covered. The broad fin and rudder had vertical edges but an angled top; the rudder extended to the bottom of the fuselage, working through a small cut-out in the elevators. The fixed undercarriage of the LeO 8 consisted of a rectangular frame mounted from the lower fuselage longerons by a parallel pair of struts on each side. A pair of single wheels were attached to the frame, which was enclosed in a streamlined fairing of wing-like profile that added to the wing area. There was a sprung steel skid under the tail. The rear gunner operated a mounted pair of Lewis guns and provision was made for a pair of fixed, forward firing Vickers machine guns. Operational history The LeO 8 made its first flight in January 1923 from Villacoublay. The prototype flew with a machine gun mounted in the rear cockpit but at the time its simple construction, choice of engines, relatively high speed at altitude and a low landing speed suggested civilian as well as military uses. No military order was placed; instead the sole LeO 8 was prepared for an attempt on the altitude record for an aircraft carrying a load. This was tried in 1925 but ended in a fatal accident. Specifications Notes References External links Göttingen 430 airfoil 8 1920s French fighter aircraft 1920s French military reconnaissance aircraft Parasol-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1923