Breguet Nautilus

790 Nautilus

National origin: France
Manufacturer: Breguet Aviation
First flight: 1939
Number built: 2

The Breguet 790 Nautilus was a prototype French three-seat coastal patrol flying-boat designed and built by Breguet Aviation to meet a requirement from the French navy.

Development

The Nautilus had a high-set monoplane wing on a single-step hull, the wing was fabric covered and the hull all-metal. The aircraft was powered by a 720 hp (537 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs inline V-12 piston engine strut mounted above the hull driving a pusher propeller.

The first of two prototypes flew in 1939 and performed well enough that a production order for 75 was placed. 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.

Variants

Breguet 790 Basic three-seat coastal reconnaissance aircraft, powered by 720 hp (537 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs engine. Two prototypes built. Breguet 791 Proposed version powered by single Gnome-Rhx´ne 14M radial engine. Unbuilt. Breguet 792 Proposed version for ship-based reconaissance aircraft, powered by two 360 hp (267 kW) Béarn air cooled inline engines. Unbuilt.

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 3
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 m (355.2 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,600 kg (7,937 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs inline piston engine, 540 kW (720 hp)
Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

Maximum speed: 310 km/h (190 mph; 170 kn)
Cruising speed: 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn)
Range: 900 km (559 mi; 486 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,000 m (19,685 ft)

Related lists

List of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft

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.

Breguet Nautilus Pictures and Breguet Nautilus for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia