The Bréguet 790 Nautilus was a prototype French three-seat coastal patrol flying-boat designed and built by Bréguet Aviation to meet a requirement from the French navy.[1]
790 Nautilus | |
---|---|
Role | Coastal patrol flying-boat |
National origin | France |
Manufacturer | Bréguet Aviation |
First flight | 1939 |
Number built | 2 |
Development
editThe Nautilus had a high-set monoplane wing on a single-step hull, the wing being fabric covered and the hull all-metal.[1] The aircraft was powered by a 720 hp (537 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs V-12 piston engine strut-mounted above the hull, driving a pusher propeller.[1]
The first of two prototypes flew in 1939 and performed well enough that a production order for 75 was placed.[1] The order was reduced to 45 in May 1940 in order to free production capacity for more urgently needed combat aircraft, but none were built following the German invasion.[1][2]
Variants
edit- Bréguet 790
- Basic three-seat coastal reconnaissance aircraft, powered by 540 kW (720 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs engine. Two prototypes built.[3]
- Bréguet 791
- Proposed version powered by single 490 kW (660 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engine. Unbuilt.[2]
- Bréguet 792
- Proposed version for ship-based reconnaissance aircraft, powered by two 270 kW (360 hp) Béarn 6 air-cooled inline engines. Unbuilt.[2]
Specifications
editData from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: three
- Length: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 17.00 m (55 ft 9 in)
- Height: 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 33.00 m2 (355.2 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,600 kg (7,937 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs inline piston engine, 540 kW (720 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 310 km/h (190 mph, 170 kn)
- Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
- Range: 900 km (560 mi, 490 nmi)
- Endurance: 6 hr at 90 mph (140 km/h)[2]
- Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 7.30 m/s (1,437 ft/min) [2]
Armament
- Guns: 1× 7.5 mm Darne machine gun in dorsal position[2]
- Bombs: 2× 75 kg (165 lb) bombs underwing[2]
See also
editRelated lists
References
edit- Notes
- Bibliography
- Green, William (1968). War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Five Flying Boats. London: Macdonald. ISBN 0-356-01449-5.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.