Breguet Deux-Ponts

infobox Aircraft
name = Deux-Ponts / Provence / Sahara
type = Airliner and freighter
manufacturer = Breguet

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caption =3 line drawing
designer =
first flight = 1949
introduced = 1953
retired =
status =
primary user = Air France
more users = French Air Force
produced =
number built = 19
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Breguet 761/763/765 were a family of 1940s and 1950s French double-deck transport aircraft produced by Breguet. The aircraft were normally called the Deux-Ponts (Double-Decker) but it was not an official name.

Design and development

Breguet began design work on the Breguet 761 two-deck airliner even before the end of the Second World War, in 1944. The prototype first flew on 15 February 1949.

The 761 featured a cantilever wing set at mid-height on the bulky fuselage. The retractable tricycle landing gear featured dual-wheel main units. The empennage, high on the rear fuselage had twin fins and rudders. The prototype was powered by four 1,850 hp (1380 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. They also included 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 wingspan, strengthened wings and three-crew flight deck. The 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 Br.761S aircraft and four new Br.765 Sahara freighter aircraft with removable cargo doors.

Projects to build versions powered with British engines (for possible United Kingdom buyers) did not come to fruition. The projects would have been the 766 (with the Bristol Hercules radial engine, and the 767 with British turboprop engines.

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 provided the French Air Force with a valuable transport fleet for moving personnel 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

;ALG

*Air Algerie (loaned for trials 1952)

;FRA

*French Air Force

*Air France

;UK

*Silver City (leased 1953)

pecifications (Br.763)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=
length main= 94 ft 11½ in
length alt= 28.94 m
span main= 141 ft 0¼ in
span alt= 42.99 m
height main= 31 ft 4 in
height alt= 9.55 m
area main= 1,995.7 ft²
area alt= 185.40 m²
empty weight main= 71,727 lb
empty weight alt= 32535 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main= 113,759 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 51600 kg
engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA18
type of prop= radial piston
number of props=4
power main= 2,400 hp
power alt=1790 kw
max speed main= 242 mph
max speed alt= 390 km/h
range main= 1,345 miles
range alt= 2165 km
ceiling main= 23,950 ft
ceiling alt= 7300 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=

References

*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=
*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= French Post-War Transport Aircraft|year= 1980|publisher= Air-Britain|location= Tonbridge, England|isbn=0 85130 078 2

External links

* [http://www.aeroweb-fr.net/appareils/fiche,8,breguet-765-deux-ponts.php Technical data and photos (French)]

ee also

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