The Breguet Colibri was a low power, single seat Frenchmonoplane designed to compete in a 1923 newspaper-sponsored contest between such aircraft. Only one was built.
In 1923 the French newspaper Petit Parisien organised a contest for low-powered aircraft, called the Grand-Prix de la Moto-Aviette. It attracted nineteen entries and began on Sunday 15 July at Buc, Yvelines. The Breguet Colibri (Hummingbird) was one participant,[1] remarked on initially because it showed an interest in this category from an established manufacturer.[2]
It was a high, braced-wing monoplane of mixed construction. The largely wooden wing was trapezoidal in plan out to rounded tips, tapering slightly in thickness outward and built around two wooden spars. It was braced from below with V-struts from the spars at about one-third span to the lower fuselage. Broad ailerons filled the outer halves of the trailing edges out to the tips.[3]
the first choice of engine for the Colibri was a water-cooled, twin-cylinder, 509 cc (31.1 cu in), 10 hp (7.5 kW) Renault but this was not ready for the Grand-Prix. Instead Breguet used an air-cooled, 750 cc (46 cu in), four-cylinder, upright inlineSergant A, which produced 16 hp (12 kW) at 3,200 rpm.[3][4] This was mounted in the upper nose under a narrow, dural cowling and drove a two-blade propeller.[3]
The fuselage of the Colibri was almost rectangular in section, with tubular duralumin longerons and frames which slightly rounded its canvas covering. Its top and underside were flat and met at a wide horizontal knife-edge below the engine. The pilot's cockpit was just behind the wing leading edge, with a faired headrest behind it. At the rear the dural-framed horizontal tail was mounted on top of the fuselage and was almost semi-circular in plan, with a ground-adjustable tailplane and unbalancedelevators. The vertical tail had an irregular, blunted quadrilateral profile and its rudder, which worked in a gap between the elevators, was also unbalanced.[3]
The Colibri had a very simple tailskid undercarriage with its thin-tyred mainwheels on an axle elastically mounted from the lower longerons, inset into the deep fuselage sides and centred just below its underside. Its track was only about 790 mm (31 in).[3]
Operational historyedit
The precise date of the Colibri's first flight is not known, but in May 1923 it was referred to as a "recent production " of Avions Breguet.[2]
The Grand Prix at Buc was won by a Farman Moustique monoplane, with a Dewoitine in second place. As well as take-off and landing tests there was a race over 300 km (190 mi), flown in thirty laps. The Colibri was in second or third place during the first three laps but dropped out during the fourth.[5]
It continued to fly with the Sergant engine into 1924; that January it took part in a meeting at Nimes.[6] There is no known evidence that the Renault was ever fitted.
^"Le Grand-Prix du "Petit Parisien"". Les Ailes (114): 1–2. 12 July 1923.
^ ab"Deux importantes inscriptions". Les Ailes (99): 2. 10 May 1923.
^ abcdefSerryer, J (6 September 1923). "Le "Colibri" Louis Breguet". Les Ailes (116): 2.
^"Le Moteur Sergant 16 HP". Les Ailes (109): 2. 19 August 1923.
^Frachet, André (19 July 1923). "(Lucien Coupet, sur Farman-Salmson ..." Les Ailes (108): 1–2.
^Claparède, E (24 January 1924). "Ce que fût le meeting de Nimes". Les Ailes (106): 2.
^"Le Breguet". L'Aéronautique. 5 (50): 275. July 1923.
External linksedit
Aviafrance
April 13, 2024
breguet, colibri, power, single, seat, french, monoplane, designed, compete, 1923, newspaper, sponsored, contest, between, such, aircraft, only, built, colibrirole, ultralight, aircraftnational, origin, francemanufacturer, louis, breguetfirst, flight, spring, . The Breguet Colibri was a low power single seat French monoplane designed to compete in a 1923 newspaper sponsored contest between such aircraft Only one was built ColibriRole Ultralight aircraftNational origin FranceManufacturer Louis BreguetFirst flight Spring 1923Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Renault engine 4 References 5 External linksDesign and development editIn 1923 the French newspaper Petit Parisien organised a contest for low powered aircraft called the Grand Prix de la Moto Aviette It attracted nineteen entries and began on Sunday 15 July at Buc Yvelines The Breguet Colibri Hummingbird was one participant 1 remarked on initially because it showed an interest in this category from an established manufacturer 2 It was a high braced wing monoplane of mixed construction The largely wooden wing was trapezoidal in plan out to rounded tips tapering slightly in thickness outward and built around two wooden spars It was braced from below with V struts from the spars at about one third span to the lower fuselage Broad ailerons filled the outer halves of the trailing edges out to the tips 3 the first choice of engine for the Colibri was a water cooled twin cylinder 509 cc 31 1 cu in 10 hp 7 5 kW Renault but this was not ready for the Grand Prix Instead Breguet used an air cooled 750 cc 46 cu in four cylinder upright inline Sergant A which produced 16 hp 12 kW at 3 200 rpm 3 4 This was mounted in the upper nose under a narrow dural cowling and drove a two blade propeller 3 The fuselage of the Colibri was almost rectangular in section with tubular duralumin longerons and frames which slightly rounded its canvas covering Its top and underside were flat and met at a wide horizontal knife edge below the engine The pilot s cockpit was just behind the wing leading edge with a faired headrest behind it At the rear the dural framed horizontal tail was mounted on top of the fuselage and was almost semi circular in plan with a ground adjustable tailplane and unbalanced elevators The vertical tail had an irregular blunted quadrilateral profile and its rudder which worked in a gap between the elevators was also unbalanced 3 The Colibri had a very simple tailskid undercarriage with its thin tyred mainwheels on an axle elastically mounted from the lower longerons inset into the deep fuselage sides and centred just below its underside Its track was only about 790 mm 31 in 3 Operational history editThe precise date of the Colibri s first flight is not known but in May 1923 it was referred to as a recent production of Avions Breguet 2 The Grand Prix at Buc was won by a Farman Moustique monoplane with a Dewoitine in second place As well as take off and landing tests there was a race over 300 km 190 mi flown in thirty laps The Colibri was in second or third place during the first three laps but dropped out during the fourth 5 It continued to fly with the Sergant engine into 1924 that January it took part in a meeting at Nimes 6 There is no known evidence that the Renault was ever fitted Specifications Renault engine editData from l Aeronautique July 1923 7 General characteristicsCrew One Length 6 10 m 20 ft 0 in Wingspan 10 40 m 34 ft 1 in Height 1 54 m 5 ft 1 in Wing area 15 m2 160 sq ft Empty weight 98 kg 216 lb Gross weight 188 kg 414 lb Fuel capacity 25 L 5 5 imp gal 6 6 US gal Powerplant 1 Renault water cooled 2 cylinder inline 7 5 kW 10 hp Propellers 2 bladed BreguetReferences edit Le Grand Prix du Petit Parisien Les Ailes 114 1 2 12 July 1923 a b Deux importantes inscriptions Les Ailes 99 2 10 May 1923 a b c d e f Serryer J 6 September 1923 Le Colibri Louis Breguet Les Ailes 116 2 Le Moteur Sergant 16 HP Les Ailes 109 2 19 August 1923 Frachet Andre 19 July 1923 Lucien Coupet sur Farman Salmson Les Ailes 108 1 2 Claparede E 24 January 1924 Ce que fut le meeting de Nimes Les Ailes 106 2 Le Breguet L Aeronautique 5 50 275 July 1923 External links editAviafrance Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Breguet Colibri amp oldid 1215190364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
