BREGUET DEUX-PONTS

The 'Breguet 761/763/765' was a 1940s French double-deck airliner and freighter produced by Breguet. The aircraft were normally called the 'Deux-Ponts' (Double-Decker) but it was not an official name.

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Variants

Operators

Specifications (Br.763)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

Design of the 'Breguet 761' two-deck airliner began in 1944 and first flew on 15 February 1949. A cantilever mid-wing all-metal monoplane with a bulky fuselage. It had a retractable tricycle landing gear with twin-wheel main units. The tail unit set high on the rear fuselage had twin fins and rudders. The prototype was powered by four 1,850 hp (1178 kw) SNECMA built Gnome-Rhône 14R radial engines. The prototype was followed by three 'Br.761S' pre-production aircraft powered by 2,020 hp (1506 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-B31 radial engines, other modification included the introduction of a third central fin. Air France had shown interest in the Br.761 and in 1951 ordered 12 aircraft with the designation 'Br.763 Provence'. The 763 had more powerful engines, an increased span, strengthened wings and three-crew flightdeck. The first 763 first flew on 20 July 1951 and entered service with Air France in August 1952. The Air France aircraft had accommodation for 59 passengers on the top deck, and 48 on the lower deck, although the aircraft was capable of carrying 135 passengers in a high-density layout. During 1964 Air France transferred six Br.763s to the French Air Force. The air force also acquired the three pre-production aircraft and four new 'Br.765 Sahara' freighter aircraft with removable cargo doors.
Projects to build version of the 763 powered by the Bristol Hercules engine and the 766 and 767 with British turboprops for possible UK buyers were abandoned.

Operational history

In 1955 the French Air Force acquired the three pre-production Br.761S aircraft, these and the Sahara aircraft acquired from Air France in provided the French Air Force with a valuable transport fleet particular in the transport of men and materials to the Pacific nuclear testing areas. The Sahara fleet was retired in 1972.
Air France converted the six remaining Br.763s into freighters with the name 'Universal' which remained in service until 1972.

Variants

;Breguet 761
:Prototype with four 1,590 hp Gnome-Rhóne 14R radial engines, one built.
;Breguet 761S
:Pre-production aircraft with four 2,100 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-B31 engines, three built.
;Breguet 763 Provence
:Production aircraft for Air France, 12 built.
;Breguet 764
:Proposed anti-submarine naval version, prototype 761 was to be converted but project was abandoned.
;Breguet 765 Sahara
:Freighter version for the French Air Force, 4 built.

Operators

;

★ Air Algerie (loaned for trials 1952)
;

★ French Air Force

★ Air France
;

★ Silver City (leased 1953)

Specifications (Br.763)

References

★ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), , , , Orbis Publishing, ,

★ French Post-War Transport Aircraft, , , , Air-Britain, 1980,

External links

★ Technical data and photos (French)

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