Breguet Type III

Types III, IV, and V

Role: Experimental aircraft
Manufacturer: Breguet
Designed by: Louis Breguet
First flight: 1910
Primary users: French Air Force Royal Naval Air Service Royal Flying Corps Italian Air Force

This article is about the Breguet aircraft of 1910-1913. For the unrelated aircraft of the same designation flown in World War I, see Breguet Bre.4 and Breguet Bre.5.

The Breguet Types III, IV, and V were a family of early biplanes built by Louis Breguet in France from 1910-1912.

Design and development

They built on the basic pattern established in the design of the Type II, unorthodox biplanes with conical fuselages (that earned them the nickname "coffee pots" in France and "tin whistles" in England), cruciform tails, and tricycle undercarriage, but were somewhat larger and sturdier. A Type IV achieved fame in August 1910 as being the first aircraft to lift six people. This family also included the first machines that Breguet was able to sell to the French military, after arranging a series of demonstrations for the Army. In 1911, a Type III named Breguet du Maroc became the first heavier-than-air aircraft to fly in the French colonies, with Henri Brégi making a flight from Casablanca to Fes.

Variants

Type III
Type IV
Type V
Type G2
Powered by the Gnome et Rhx´ne engine.

Type G2-bis
Powered by the Gnome et Rhx´ne engine.

Type G2-bis Powered by the Gnome et Rhx´ne engine.

Type G3
Major production version powered by the Gnome et Rhx´ne 75 kW (100 hp) engine, 41 sold to various military operators in 1912.
Type A-G4
Definitive military version of 1913, powered by the Gnome et Rhx´ne engine.
Type U1
Powered by the Canton-Unné engine, sometimes called C-U1.
Type U2
Powered by the Canton-Unné engine, sometimes called C-U2.

Type H-U2 (H for Hydro)
Seaplane version of the Type U2.
Type U3
Powered by the Canton-Unné engine, sometimes called C-U3.

Type H-U2 (H for Hydro)

Type H-U3
Seaplane version of the Type U3.

Type H-U3

Operators

France

French Air Force operated 32 aircraft of Type G3, plus some Type A-G4s.

Italy

Italian Air Force operated 3 aircraft of Type G3, plus some Type A-G4s.

Sweden

Swedish Air Force operated 1 aircraft of Type G3.

United Kingdom

Royal Flying Corps operated 5 aircraft of Type G3, plus some Type A-G4s.
No. 2 Squadron RFC
No. 4 Squadron RFC
Royal Naval Air Service operated 15 A-G4 aircraft.

Survivors

Currently two Breguet Type III are preserved:

Breguet Type III Breguet du Maroc Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Breguet Type III Type U1 Flygvapenmusum in Malmen.

Specifications (Type III)

General characteristics

Crew: 1, pilot
Capacity: 2 passengers
Length: 9.15 m (30 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 13.70 m (44 ft 11 in)
Empty weight: 703 kg (1,550 lb)
Gross weight: 1,150 kg (2,535 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Canton-Unné radial, 63 kW (85 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 196, 197.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 78.
Hartmann, Gérard. Les premiers appareils Breguet.

Breguet Type III Pictures and Breguet Type III for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia