Breguet Br.960 Vultur

The Bréguet Aviation Br.960 Vultur is a prototype of plane of attack French, intended to be embarked on board Porte-avions. Only 3 prototypes were built and tested with the beginning of the year 1950.

Design

A project of plane of attack embarked was launched at the end of 1947 by the French National marine. Having gained the contract in April 1948, the manufacturer Bréguet Aviation built two indicated prototypes Br.960 Vultur . The first of them made its inaugural flight on August 3rd, 1951. It had a rather original system of propulsion, composed of a Turbopropulseur with the front one, whose low fuel consumption allowed a great autonomy, and of a Turboréacteur with the back to have a supplement where necessary of power (takeoff, combat).

The second prototype makes its take-off on September 15th, 1952. Indicated Br. 965 , it is been driven by more powerful engines because the first prototype proves under-motorized. The third prototype is used to lead the tests of catapult-launchings and landings simulated to the ground. In spite of test campaigns succeeded, the project is however abandoned: on the one hand it appears clearly that the future is with the use of the Turboréacteur only (at least for the traditional fighters not requiring a high autonomy) on the other hand Vultur is too heavy to be able to be embarked on the aircraft carriers available to then the France.

The studies undertaken on the 3 protoypes will be however re-used to put to lead to the Breguet Br.1050 Alizé intended for the anti-submarine fight, and initially indicated under the name of Epaulard .

See too

External bonds

Br.960 Vultur on Prototypes.com
Some infos on Vultur on a site devoted to the French Naval Aviation

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