Breguet XI Corsaire

Context and Necessity

In 1915, German fighters and a well-established air defense made flights for French bombers extremely unsafe. The French command made an emergency decision to begin production of new, more advanced bombers. Two main lines of development emerged: the design of light, high-speed aircraft and heavy, but well-protected aircraft.

Design and Capabilities

According to the second concept, at the end of 1915, the Breguet factory built the heavy bomber Breguet XI Corsaire. It was a true giant with a wingspan of almost 30 meters and a takeoff weight of about 5 tons. The aircraft was equipped with three 220 hp Renault 8 Gd engines and had powerful defensive armament: one 37mm cannon and three 7.7mm machine guns. The Breguet XI’s bomb load consisted of 300 kilograms of light bombs.

Tests and Rejection

The bomber’s first flight took place in February 1916. Despite satisfactory test results, the French command refused to purchase the aircraft, arguing that the Breguet XI was too large for frontline aviation.

Technical Specifications

Modification	Breguet XI
Wingspan, m	27.65
Length, m	11.90
Height, m	4.00
Wing area, m2	105.20
Empty weight	3100
Normal takeoff weight	4865
Engine type	3 Piston engines Renault 8 Gd
Power, hp	3 x 220
Maximum speed, km/h	148
Cruising speed, km/h	120
Crew	4 crew
Armament	one 37-mm cannon, three 7.7-mm machine guns, bomb load up to 300 kg

Image and diagram gallery of the Breguet XI Corsaire

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Breguet XI Corsaire