Breguet 17

From Wings of Linen
Breguet 17
Role Escort Fighter
Manufacturer Breguet
Designer Louis Breguet
First flight mid 1918 [1]
Introduction 1919
Primary user France
Number built 10 [1]
Engine 420hp Renault 12K or
450hp Renault 12K1
Armament 2×fixed sync. Vickers and
2×rear flexible Lewis and
downward belly Lewis
Crew 2
Max Speed 218 km/h (135 mph)[1]
Climb 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 5:45[1]
4,000 m (13,100 ft) in 14:00[1]
5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 20:41[1]
Ceiling 7,500 m (24,600 ft)[1]

France's "C2" two-seat fighter specification saw several entries, including the Breguet 17, a variant of the Breguet 14 with twin guns for the pilot and an additional downward-firing Lewis for the observer. While it possessed a powerful 420-450hp Renault engine, its flight characteristics must have been very much like the Breguet 14, and it was clearly outclassed by its C2 competitor the Hanriot H.D.3. Only ten were built and they were not available for service until 1919. Had the war continued, it is likely that some would have been built as escorts for flights of Breguet 14 bombers, but the plane would have mostly insurance against inadequate supply of the Hanriot. [1]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Breguet 17.

References

Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Davilla, p.129.
Bibliography
  • Dr. James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0.