790 Nautilus
Role Coastal patrol flying-boat
National origin France
Manufacturer Bréguet Aviation
First flight 1939
Number built 2

The Bréguet 790 Nautilus was a prototype French three-seat coastal patrol flying-boat designed and built by Bréguet Aviation to meet a requirement from the French navy.[1]

Development

The Nautilus had a high-set monoplane wing on a single-step hull, the wing being fabric covered and the hull all-metal.[1] The aircraft was powered by a 720 hp (537 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs V-12 piston engine strut-mounted above the hull, driving a pusher propeller.[1]

The first of two prototypes flew in 1939 and performed well enough that a production order for 75 was placed.[1] 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.[1][2]

Variants

Bréguet 790
Basic three-seat coastal reconnaissance aircraft, powered by 540 kW (720 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs engine. Two prototypes built.[3]
Bréguet 791
Proposed version powered by single 490 kW (660 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engine. Unbuilt.[2]
Bréguet 792
Proposed version for ship-based reconnaissance aircraft, powered by two 270 kW (360 hp) Béarn 6 air-cooled inline engines. Unbuilt.[2]

Specifications

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: three
  • 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 m2 (355.2 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,700 kg (5,952 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,600 kg (7,937 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs inline piston engine, 540 kW (720 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 310 km/h (190 mph, 170 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
  • Range: 900 km (560 mi, 490 nmi)
  • Endurance: 6 hr at 90 mph (140 km/h)[2]
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 7.30 m/s (1,437 ft/min) [2]

Armament

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Orbis 1985, p. 879
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Green 1968, p.14.
  3. ↑ Green 1968, pp. 13–14.
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.
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