Breguet Type IV

Not to be confused with Breguet 4.

The Breguet Type IV was an aircraft built by Breguet Aviation. It was first flown in 1911, and was the first Breguet aircraft to be produced in quantity. It was used by the French Army and the British Royal Flying Corps. It is notable for the extensive use of metal in its construction, unusual in an aircraft of its time.

Type VI
Breguet and around 10 passengers above the airport of Douai in March 1911
Role
Manufacturer	Bréguet
Designer	Louis Breguet
First flight	1911

Design and development

The Bréguet Type IV was developed from the Bréguet Type III which had appeared during 1910. It was a tractor biplane with a tricycle undercarriage.

Variants and nomenclature

View of R.U.1, clearly showing construction of the aircraft

The Bréguet Type IV was produced in a number of variants, differing in their seating arrangement and in the engine fitted. Although Bréguet's earlier aircraft were referred to using a type number, the aircraft produced after the Type III were generally referred to using an airframe number and a letter/number combination denoting the type of engine fitted.^[1]

• G, later G.1 powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Gnome Omega
• G.2 powered by a 70 hp (52 kW) Gnome Lambda
• G.3 powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome Double Omega
• G.4 powered by a 160 hp (120 kW) Gnome Double Lambda
• R.1 powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) REP
• R.2 powered by a 70 hp (52 kW) REP
• L.1 powered by a Renault 50/60 hp (the 'L' for Louis Renault)
• L.2 powered by a 70 hp (52kW) Renault
• L.3 powered by a 90 hp (67kW) Renault
• C.1 powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) Chenu
• C.2 powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Chenu
• U.1 powered by a 7-cylinder Canton-Unné
• U.2 powered by an 9-cylinder Canton-Unné
• D.1 powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Dansette
• O.1 powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône 9C

Survivors

R.U.1 at the Musée des Arts et Métiers

An example, an R.U.1, is on display at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris.

Specifications (L-1 Cruiser)

Data from Flight, 22 July 1911, p. 625^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1
• Length: 8.5 m (28 ft)
• Upper wingspan: 13.94 m (45 ft 9 in)
• Lower wingspan: 8.74 m (28 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 30.43 m² (327.5 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 544 kg (1,200 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Renault 50/60 hp air-cooled V8
• Propellers: 2.4 m (8 ft) diameter