The Bréguet 482 was a French four-engined heavy bomber aircraft designed just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War with two prototypes nearing completion when Germany invaded France in 1940, one of which was flown after the end of the war as an experimental platform.
In December 1936 the French Air Ministry issued a specification for a four-seat, twin-engined bomber, with Bréguet's initial design, the Bréguet 480 (or Bre. 480) to be powered with the specified 914 kW (1,226 hp) Gnome et Rhône 14L radial engines,[1] intended to carry 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of bombs over a 2,500 km (1,600 mi) radius of action. Gnome et Rhône abandoned the 14L however, so, after considering a version powered by two Hispano-Suiza 12YV12 engines, Bréguet reworked the design as the Bréguet 482, with four 1,007 kW (1,350 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Z engines,[1] with an order for two prototypes placed by the French Air Ministry on 12 May 1938.[2]
The Bréguet 482 was a mid-winged monoplane of all-metal construction, with a clean, low-drag, oval section monocoque fuselage, twin tails and a retractable tailwheel undercarriage. The planned defensive armament was a 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano-Suiza HS.404cannon in a power-operated dorsal position, with a 7.5 mm (0.30 in) machine gun in the nose and a further two machine guns in ventral mountings.[3] Up to 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of bombs could be carried.[4]
Operational historyedit
Construction of the two prototypes was well advanced when Germany invaded France on 10 May 1940, and in late May the nearly complete prototypes were evacuated from Villacoublay near Paris, with the first prototype being sent to Bône in Algeria and the second to the Bréguet factory at Anglet, near Bayonne in the far south-west of France.[3] The first prototype was destroyed in Algeria during a German air raid following the Allied invasion of French North Africa, but the second prototype remained untouched, despite the fact that Anglet was occupied by the Germans from 1940.[3]
After the Germans had been driven out, Bréguet resumed work on the Br 482, and proposed to complete it with more powerful Hispano-Suiza 12Z engines and a heavier armament.[1] The French Armée de l'Air had no requirement for it however, and it was decided to use the aircraft with some of the planned modifications as a research aircraft. It was flown for the first time in November 1947 and was used for various experiments, including testing of the 12Z engines.[5]
Variantsedit
Bre 480
Original design, powered by two Gnome-et-Rhône 14L radial engines. Unbuilt.[6]
Bre 481
Proposed versions with two Hispano-Suiza 12Y engines and reduced wing area.[6]
Cuny, Jean (1989). Les avions de combat français, 2: Chasse lourde, bombardement, assaut, exploration [French Combat Aircraft 2: Heavy Fighters, Bombers, Attack, Reconnaissance]. Docavia (in French). Vol. 30. Ed. Larivière. OCLC 36836833.
Cuny, Jean and Pierre Leyvastre. Les Avions Breguet (1940/1971). Paris: Editions Larivière, 1977. DOCAVIA vol. 6. OCLC 440863702
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers. London:Macdonald, 1967.
Lacaze, Henri (2016). Les avions Louis Breguet Paris [The Aircraft of Louis Breguet, Paris] (in French). Vol. 2: le règne du monoplan. Le Vigen, France. ISBN978-2-914017-89-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
April 13, 2024
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The Breguet 482 was a French four engined heavy bomber aircraft designed just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War with two prototypes nearing completion when Germany invaded France in 1940 one of which was flown after the end of the war as an experimental platform Br 482Role Heavy bomberNational origin FranceManufacturer Breguet AviationFirst flight 27 November 1947 1 Status Abandoned prototypeNumber built 2 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Specifications Breguet Br 482 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 BibliographyDevelopment and design editIn December 1936 the French Air Ministry issued a specification for a four seat twin engined bomber with Breguet s initial design the Breguet 480 or Bre 480 to be powered with the specified 914 kW 1 226 hp Gnome et Rhone 14L radial engines 1 intended to carry 1 000 kg 2 200 lb of bombs over a 2 500 km 1 600 mi radius of action Gnome et Rhone abandoned the 14L however so after considering a version powered by two Hispano Suiza 12Y V12 engines Breguet reworked the design as the Breguet 482 with four 1 007 kW 1 350 hp Hispano Suiza 12Z engines 1 with an order for two prototypes placed by the French Air Ministry on 12 May 1938 2 The Breguet 482 was a mid winged monoplane of all metal construction with a clean low drag oval section monocoque fuselage twin tails and a retractable tailwheel undercarriage The planned defensive armament was a 20 mm 0 79 in Hispano Suiza HS 404 cannon in a power operated dorsal position with a 7 5 mm 0 30 in machine gun in the nose and a further two machine guns in ventral mountings 3 Up to 2 500 kg 5 500 lb of bombs could be carried 4 Operational history editConstruction of the two prototypes was well advanced when Germany invaded France on 10 May 1940 and in late May the nearly complete prototypes were evacuated from Villacoublay near Paris with the first prototype being sent to Bone in Algeria and the second to the Breguet factory at Anglet near Bayonne in the far south west of France 3 The first prototype was destroyed in Algeria during a German air raid following the Allied invasion of French North Africa but the second prototype remained untouched despite the fact that Anglet was occupied by the Germans from 1940 3 After the Germans had been driven out Breguet resumed work on the Br 482 and proposed to complete it with more powerful Hispano Suiza 12Z engines and a heavier armament 1 The French Armee de l Air had no requirement for it however and it was decided to use the aircraft with some of the planned modifications as a research aircraft It was flown for the first time in November 1947 and was used for various experiments including testing of the 12Z engines 5 Variants editBre 480 Original design powered by two Gnome et Rhone 14L radial engines Unbuilt 6 Bre 481 Proposed versions with two Hispano Suiza 12Y engines and reduced wing area 6 Bre 481 B4 Planned bomber version of Bre 481 Unbuilt 6 Bre 481 Raid Planned long range record aircraft with further reduced wing area 2 dd Bre 482 B4 Four engined bomber powered by Hispano Suiza 12Z engines Bre 482 No 1 First prototype destroyed 1942 Br 482 No 2 Second prototype completed 1947 as three seat research aircraft dd Specifications Breguet Br 482 editData from 1 4 General characteristicsCrew three Length 18 86 m 61 ft 11 in Wingspan 24 09 m 79 ft 0 in Height 5 21 m 17 ft 1 in Wing area 64 4 m2 693 sq ft Empty weight 10 450 kg 23 038 lb Gross weight 14 500 kg 31 967 lb Powerplant 4 Hispano Suiza 12Z liquid cooled V12 engine 1 007 kW 1 350 hp each take off power Performance Maximum speed 560 km h 350 mph 300 kn at 8 000 m 26 000 ft Cruise speed 529 km h 329 mph 286 kn Range 1 519 km 944 mi 820 nmi Service ceiling 12 000 m 39 000 ft Armament None as completed See also edit nbsp Aviation portalRelated development Breguet 500 ColmarAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bloch MB 162 Avro ManchesterReferences editCitations edit a b c d e Bruno Parmentier 2003 01 04 Breguet Br 482 Bombardier lourd Un siecle d aviation francaise Aviafrance com Retrieved 2022 08 31 a b Green 1967 pp 129 131 a b c Green 1967 p 131 a b Green 1967 p 132 Green 1967 pp 131 132 a b c Green 1967 p 129 Bibliography edit Cuny Jean 1989 Les avions de combat francais 2 Chasse lourde bombardement assaut exploration French Combat Aircraft 2 Heavy Fighters Bombers Attack Reconnaissance Docavia in French Vol 30 Ed Lariviere OCLC 36836833 Cuny Jean and Pierre Leyvastre Les Avions Breguet 1940 1971 Paris Editions Lariviere 1977 DOCAVIA vol 6 OCLC 440863702 Green William War Planes of the Second World War Volume Seven Bombers London Macdonald 1967 Lacaze Henri 2016 Les avions Louis Breguet Paris The Aircraft of Louis Breguet Paris in French Vol 2 le regne du monoplan Le Vigen France ISBN 978 2 914017 89 3 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Breguet 482 amp oldid 1215200558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
