Engineering:Bréguet 17

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Bréguet 17 C.2 L'Aéronautique December,1922.jpg
Bréguet 17 C.2 in 1922.
Role Heavy fighter
Manufacturer Bréguet
First flight 1918
Primary user French Army
Number built ca. 100

The Bréguet 17 was a two-seat biplane fighter developed in France towards the end of World War I and operated by that country during the 1920s.

Design and development

The Bréguet 17 was a derivative of the highly successful 14 bomber, but somewhat scaled down and carrying a more powerful engine and heavier machine gun armament in place of a bomb load. The French Army was impressed enough to place orders for 1,000 of these aircraft during 1918, to be delivered the following year. The end of World War I ended these plans, but some limited production did take place into the early 1920s.

Operational history

The type was operated as the Bre.17C.2 with several escadrilles as a supplement to existing aircraft, but never formed the basis for any one unit on its own. A single example was converted into a prototype night fighter, but no production ensued.

Variants

Bre.17C.2
Main production version.
Bre.17
Night fighter prototype.

Operators

 France
  • French Army

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: two, pilot and gunner
  • Length: 8.10 m (26 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 14.28 m (46 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 43.3 m2 (466 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 1,840 kg (4,056 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Renault 12K1 , 336 kW (450 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 218 km/h (135 mph, 117 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,610 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 5.8 m/s (1,140 ft/min)

Armament

  • 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers machine guns
  • 2 × trainable, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Lewis Guns in ring mount in rear cockpit
  • 1 × trainable, downward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Lewis gun through trap door in rear cockpit

References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 198. 
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 80.