J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Breguet 16 Bn2

  The Breguet 16 was a derivative of the Breguet 14 intended to replace the Voisin 8 and 10s used by the night bomber squadrons. The Bn2 specification called for a medium bomber with a crew of two. It should not be confused with the BN2 designation that was for a heavy bomber.
  The aircraft was an enlarged version of the Breguet 14 with a considerably increased wing span of 16.96 meters (from 14.36 meters) to permit it to carry enough fuel and weapons for strategic missions. The engine was a 300-hp Renault 12Fe. Armament was three machine guns and 550 kg of bombs.
  The prototype was first flown in June 1918 by M. de Bailliencourt, a test pilot for the Breguet firm. His initial comments, before testing, were that changes needed to be made to the position of the rudder bar which was too near the seat. He also recommended that the throttle be relocated and, because of an inability to see the ground while climbing or diving the aircraft, that indentations be made in the edges of the lower wings. He subsequently made several flights without incident. However, an adjustment to the tailplane was necessary and the plane was returned to the factory so that the change could be made. Bailliencourt reported that Louis Breguet was furious at the delay this caused to the testing program.
  Two Breguet 16s were evaluated by GB 1. Series production followed but not in time for the aircraft to see active service. Postwar some were assigned to the 22nd RAB (N) and 21st RAB (N).
  A total of about 200 Breguet 16 Bn2s were built by Breguet, Ferbois, Liore-et-Oliver, and SECM.
  A Breguet 16 was tested with a Liberty engine, but as its wing failed during static testing it seems unlikely that it was flown.


Foreign Service

Czechoslovakia
  The Czechoslovakian air service purchased a number of Breguet 16 Bn2s; these were assigned to the 1st Air Regiment at Prague (Bohemia).

Portugal
  A single example was purchased by the Portuguese Arma de Aeronautics in 1921. The Portuguese took advantage of the type's excellent range to make a long-distance flight from Lisbon to Macao, China. The aircraft, named Patria, made part of the flight until it crashed in India and was replaced by a different aircraft type (named Patria II). It was struck off charge in 1924.


Breguet 16 Bn2 Two-Seat Medium Bomber with 300-hp Renault 12Fe
   Span 17.00 m; length 9.55 m; height 3.42 m; wing area 73.50 sq. m
   Empty weight 1,265 kg; loaded weight 2,200 kg
   Maximum speed at sea level: 160 km/h; climb to 4,000 m in 51 minutes 10 seconds; ceiling 4,600 meters; range 900 km
   Armament: three machine guns and 550 kg of bombs. Approximately 200 built.