Breguet Type IV

Type R.U1
300px
Breguet and around 10 passengers above the airport of Douai in March 1911
Role	Experimental aircraft
Manufacturer	Breguet
Designer	Louis Breguet
First flight	1911

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 R.F.C.. It is notable for the extensive use of metal in its construction, unusual in an aircraft of its time.

Design and development

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

Variants and nomenclature

File:CNAM-IMG 0623.jpg

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

The Breguet Type IV was produced in a number of variants, differing in their seating arrangement and in the engine fitted. Although Breguet'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.

• G, later G.1 powered by a 50 hp Gnome Omega
• G.2 powered by a 70 hp Gnome
• G.3 powered by a 100 hp Gnome Gnome Double Omega
• G.4 powered by a 160 hp Gnome Gnome Double Lambda
• R.1 powered by a 50 hp REP
• R.2 powered by a 70 hp REP
• L.1 powered by a 50 hp Renault (the 'L' for Louis Renault)
• L.2 powered by a 70 hp Renault
• C.1 powered by a 40 hp Chenu
• C.2 powered by an 80 hp Chenu
• U.1 powered by an 80 hp Canton-Unné
• U.2 powered by an 80 hp Canton-Unné
• D.1 powered by a 100 hp Dansette
• O.1 powered by an 80 hp Le Rhône

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

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1
• Length: 9 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), 2.4 m (8 ft) diameter