Review: L'Amiot 143 – De L'Amiot 140 a L'Amiot 150 Jerome Ribeiro & Michel Ledet

Lela Presse focus on books covering mostly French equipment but also other nations. For the French, at least, they aim at definitive and are comprehensive and accurate. They are not cheap but for the cost you get everything you could desire in a military equipment book.

Published in the Lela Presse 'Collection Profils Avions', No.18 focuses exclusively on the Amiot 143 and its derivatives and predecessors. It ranks as the definitive work on the subject - never to be surpassed but written entirely in French. The book is a hardcover with an illustration based on a photograph of Amiot 143s lumbering into the air (like the Handley Page Harrow these things didn't take off but lumbered)

Lengthwise it comprises 382 pages and literally covers every possible detail you might wish to know about the Amiot 143. It starts with the genesis of the aircraft and the concept of the multiplace de combat (essential for understanding why the Amiot 143 came about) and how it was chosen from a range of competitors. Then it goes into the derivatives before switching back to the development of the 143 prototype. Topics covered include how the aircraft was built, its trials and its modifications all illustrated copiously with photographs and drawings. A full set of specially drawn plans is included in 1/72 and 1/48 including the variations in Amiot 143 length (Nos. 1-30 were shorter). Of interest is just how messed up the Heller 1/72 Amiot 143 is when compared with these plans. It is really, really bad.

Next it moves on to the individual squadron histories - every one with profiles of representative aircraft (not much variation here but still in magnificent detail). Full histories of the 'raids' (special long range air cruises) are also included and wartime histories all magnificently covered by photographs. For example, the Amiot 143 was used as a transport later in the war and all the flights carried out by these aircraft are covered. Each individual aircraft's history is also listed as are engine variations and armament differences. There is literally nothing left out.

Photographic reproduction is excellent and the book is printed on high quality paper which shows off both profiles and the plans to perfection. The book is sold out at the publishers but does appear on ebay and other sources. Shop around though as some of the prices (like all of these out of print French military books) can get very high. Every time I pick this work up I ask myself - 'they published this much on one interwar bomber'?

2 additional images. Click to enlarge.