Bréguet 1001 Taon

Br.1001 *Taon*
Br.1001 Taon
General information
Type	Single-seat strike fighter
Manufacturer	Bréguet
Number built	2
History
First flight	26 July 1957

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

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-Browning machine-guns

References

Bibliography

Buttler, Tony (2015). X-Planes of Europe. Vol. II: Military Prototype Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946–1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-90210-948-0.
Carbonel, Jean-Christophe (2016). French Secret Projects. Vol. 1: Post War Fighters. Manchester, UK: Crecy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-91080-900-6.
Cuny, Jean & Leyvastre, Pierre (1977). Les Avions Breguet (1940/1971). DOCAVIA (in French). Vol. 6. Paris: Editions Larivière. OCLC 440863702.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.