Sud-Ouest
Sud-Ouest Bretagne
The Sud‑Ouest Bretagne was a French twin‑engine transport aircraft developed in the early 1940s by the Sud‑Ouest company, a successor to the Société nationale de constructions aéronautiques du Sud‑Ouest. Conceived as a versatile airliner and military transport, the Bretagne first flew on 14 March 1944, shortly after the liberation of France. Its sleek low‑wing monoplane layout combined an all‑metal stressed‑skin structure with a retractable landing gear, and it was powered by two 870‑hp Gnome‑Rhone 14N radial engines that gave a maximum speed of 380 km/h and a range of roughly 2,000 km. The cabin could accommodate up to twelve passengers or, in a troop‑carrying configuration, 20 soldiers with space for light cargo. Although only a limited production run of 15 aircraft was completed before the program was terminated in 1947, the Bretagne demonstrated several innovations, such as a fully faired engine nacelle and a hydraulic flap system that improved short‑field performance. Its design influenced later French transports like the Nord Noratlas, and it remains a notable example of post‑war French engineering that blended civilian comfort with military utility. A restored example is displayed at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, illustrating the era’s innovative spirit.
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 45
- First Flight
- 1945