Bréguet 1001 Taon

The Bréguet Br.1001 Taon was a 1950s French prototype single-seat jet strike fighter aircraft built by Bréguet.

Br.1001 Taon
Role Single-seat strike fighter
Manufacturer Bréguet
First flight 26 July 1957
Number built 2

Design and development

In 1953 European aircraft manufacturers were invited by NATO to submit aircraft for evaluation for the "LWSF" (Light Weight Strike Fighter) role. The Taon (en: Gadfly, but also an anagram of NATO or the French version OTAN) was designed to meet the requirement. The Taon was a small mid-wing monoplane with swept wings and tail surfaces and retractable tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft was powered by a Bristol Orpheus BOr.3 turbojet. The company was contracted to build three prototypes, the first aircraft flying on the 26 July 1957. The second aircraft incorporated improvements and had a slightly longer fuselage. Development was discontinued and only two aircraft were built.

Operational service

The Taon was evaluated without success, along with other designs which included the Fiat G.91, Northrop N-156, Dassault Étendard VI, Sud-Est Baroudeur and Aerfer Ariete. The NATO nations did not order a common aircraft and the French government preferred to pursue development of the Étendard.

The aircraft set an international speed record for a 1,000 km (620 mi) closed circuit with a speed of 1,046.65 km/h (650.36 mph) at 7,620 m (25,000 ft) on 25 April 1958. On 23 July, it broke the record again at a speed of 1,075 km/h (667.98 mph).

Variants
Br.1001
Prototype powered by a Bristol Orpheus BOr.3 engine, two built.
Br.1002
Proposed missile-carrying interceptor, not built.
Br.1004
Proposed production version powered by a Bristol Orpheus BOr.12 engine, not built.

Specifications (Br.1001 Taon)

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 11.68 m (38 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 14.7 m2 (158 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Siddeley Orpheus B.Or.3 turbojet, 21.6 kN (4,850 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,194 km/h (742 mph, 645 kn)

Armament

  • Guns: (proposed) four 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Colt-Browing machine-guns

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
    • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.


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