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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0696.PDF
Breguet 941 prototype Dassault Mirage IV prototype with operational FRANCE'S AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY PRODUCTION AND THE following six pages form a review ofFrench projects and production work, arranged under companies in alphabetical order. Missilesand engines are reviewed together on page 712. Breguet Present production by this famouscompany is concentrated on the Alize three- seat, carrier-based ASW aircraft, poweredby a Rolls-Royce Dart Mk 21. Nearly all of the 75 on order for the Aeronavale havebeen completed at Biarritz, and several of a batch of 15 for the Indian Navy have beendelivered. The Alize's search radar is by CSF. In addition, Breguet have a considerableshare in Caravelle sub-assembly production. The batch of 50 Fauvette single-seat glidersis complete, and there is one prototype of the two-seater Choucas for which plans areindefinite. The Chateauroux-Deols factory is overhauling USAF aircraft in Europe andan agreement to extend this work has just been concluded with Lockheed Aircraft Service. Two major development projects are theAtlantic maritime-patrol aircraft for NATO and the remarkable 94 series of STOL aircraftemploying the blown-wing principle. The Atlantic is under Breguet overall direction,with Sud. the Belgian ABAP group, Fokker and Dornier contributing major sections ofthe airframe. Breguet prepared common manuals for materials and standards forjunction points, but individual companies have been responsible for detail design of theirown sub-assemblies. This international co- operation has been excellent; the first proto-type is now only one month behind the schedule fixed two years ago, and should flyin November. The second, also being assem- bled at Toulouse, is only three days late andwill fly early next year. The first pair of 6,000 h.p. Rolls-Royce Tyne RTy.20 power-plants are now being fitted out atVillacoublay; production engines are to be made on theContinent, as noted later. Gross weight of the Atlantic will be 90,4001b,crew 12 men, maximum and patrol speeds 33Okt and 170kt, endurance 18hr and range5,000 n.m. The crew quarters on the upper deck of the "double bubble" fuselage arepressurized, leaving an unprcssurized equip- ment and weapons area below. Every kind ofanti-submarine weapon, including AS. 12 and other missiles and "special" depth chargeswill be carried, together with a CSF search radar and a tactical attack system more ad-vanced than the Canadian Antac and possibly including a central digital computer. The Breguet I ISO Atlantic (artist's impression) autopilot, operating the fully-powered controls,will be tied in with the tactical system. Auto- matic landing will be provided for if a systemis standardized by NATO. Structure includes much metal honeycomband integral tankage in the wing. The tip fairings are for equipment. Intention topurchase 27 Atlantics has been stated by France, and many more orders, with USfinancial backing, are expected from the participating countries, with the exception ofBelgium, which is at the moment only taking part in the prototype programme. Britain issaid to be content with the Shackleton, and so had to withdraw from the Atlantic pro-duction programme. Britain and Canada are represented on the NATO design committee. Contributors are Hispano, SABCA and aGerman company, undercarriage; Hispano Suiza, MAN and FN, engines made underlicence; Rotol, auxiliary drive system; D.H. Aircraft, propellers; AiResearch, a.p.u.;CSF, radar. The Breguet 941 STOL transport was rolledout on April 23 at Toulouse and should be ready to fly at the Salon. Powered by four1,250 h.p. Turbomeca Turmo HID turbines driving four Ratier Figeac propellers coupledby a transverse shaft, the 941 will weigh 44,000 lb, have a maximum payload of 13,9001b, beable to fly stage-lengths of 1,000 n.m. with reserves and take off over a 35ft barrier in1,015ft. Cruising speed will be 215kt and landing distance from 50ft will be 810ft at aspeed of 65kt. The very steep and slow approach are achieved by double flaps andailerons, which deflect up to 90° and are con- tinuously blown by the four coupled propellers.Lateral control in cruising flight and approach is assisted by spoilers and differential controlof the pitch of the outboard propellers. During the approach, the outboard propellersare additionally set in fine pitch to produce some drag; and all four propellers arc reversedimmediately on touch-down. The pilot has a special joint power lever with reversingcontrols in the hand-grip. Propeller pitch is controlled from a central hydraulic unitdesigned by Ratier Figeac. The wing torsion box is made up of honeycomb panels andforms fuel tankage, and the special Messier Jockey undercarriage retracts into fuselagefairings. The 940 Integral prototype is still engagedin test and development flying, and a complete wing and power section of the 941 are accu-mulating static running time. While the 941 has a rear loading door and is suitablefor military cargo flying, the projected 942 will have a pressurized fuselage for passengertransport. Provisions are being made for eventual all-weather operation. The 945 is asmaller, twin-Turmo, four-propeller version for tactical transport and close support. Itis involved in the light tactical transport competition for the French forces. The 941prototype was ordered by the government for possible military application, but there is alsokeen civil interest in the type, and BEA and other operators are following its progress.There is also a 946 twin-engined transport. As at present installed, the transmissionand control system, with numerous gearboxes, shaft bearings and individual lubricatingcircuits, is complex and might prove expensive to maintain. Plans already exist for a re-arrangement of the reduction-gearing stages to allow the transverse shaft to rotate atmuch less than its present 6,000 r.p.m. Lubricating systems would be greatly simpli-fied, fewer shaft bearings would be needed, and weight and complexity would be con-siderably reduced. GAM Dassault A progressive and power-ful company, and one of the best equipped in Europe, Dassault not only designs and buildsaircraft, but also has electronics, powered- controls, missile and equipment departments.Main airframe production effort is now con- centrated on the Mirage III multi-purposestrike fighter and on the Etendard IV carrier- based attack aircraft. Development flying ofthe Mirage IV supersonic bomber, which is even faster than the Mirage III, is continuingwith the first prototype now carrying most of its operational equipment. The first of threepre-production Mirage IVAs will fly late this year and 50 are to be ordered for deliveringthe "French deterrent." In conjunction with Sud, Dassault are preparing a VTOL versionof the Mirage III with lift engines flanking the main propulsion engine. The prototypeof this promising aircraft is under construc- tion and should fly by the end of this year.Also with Sud, Dassault are designing a super- sonic transport, described under the Sudheading, and are preparing the Super Com- munaute or Diplomate version of the originalCommunaute light transport. Six pre-production Etendard IVs werecompleted, one of them powered by a Rolls- Royce Avon and another fitted with a camera-bearing nose. Standard powerplant is the SNECMA Atar 8 giving 9,9001b thrust.The first of a batch of 100 for the Aeronavale, many of them photographic IVP versions,is to be completed in June and rate of produc- tion will be four per month. The Etendard isable to operate with a wide variety of under- wing stores or tanks from small carriers, andhas the Dassault Aida interception and ground- ranging radar, toss-bombing computer, flight-refuelling probe and extensive high-lift devices. "Buddy" tanker packs will also be earnedwhen appropriate. The aircraft can exceed M1 in a dive and can carry bombs, rockets ora variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, including the latest Nord AS-30.Fixed armament consists of a pack ol sour 20mm guns. , More than a dozen pre-production ^nuproduction Mirage Ills have been delivered, and official orders for the French air lorcinow total more than 430. The first French squadron will be formed this year; produ, lionis well under way, the first true production
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