The Breguet 941 was a French four-engine turboprop short take-off and landing (STOL) transport aircraft developed by Breguet in the 1960s.
Although widely promoted, both by Breguet in France and by McDonnell Aircraft and McDonnell Douglas in the United States, it was not built-in large numbers; only one prototype and four production aircraft were built.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the French aviation pioneer Louis Charles Breguet developed a concept for a short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft using four free-turbine turboshaft engines to drive a common powershaft, which, in turn drove four oversize propellers, which were evenly spaced along the leading edge of the wing with large, full-span, slotted flaps, with the arrangement known as the blown wing.
An initial, experimental prototype, powered by four Turbomeca Turmo II engines, the Breguet 940 Integral, first flew on 21 May 1958, and was used to prove the concept, demonstrating excellent short field performance.
This led to an order being placed in February 1960 for a prototype of an aircraft employing the same concept, but capable of carrying useful loads.
This aircraft, the Breguet 941, first flew on 1 June 1961.
Testing of this prototype resulted in an order for four improved production aircraft, the Breguet 941S for the French Air Force, first flying on 19 April 1967.
These were fitted with more powerful engines and a modified rear cargo door to allow for airdropping of stores.
McDonnell Aircraft and McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Aircraft acquired a production licence for the 941 in the United States and began marketing the aircraft with minimal changes as the McDonnell 188.
The company also promoted an upgraded version with a circular section pressurised fuselage, uprated engines, and other enhancements as the 188E.
Marketing of the 188E continued after McDonnell merged with Douglas Aircraft to form McDonnell Douglas, and the merged company proposed to build an even larger and more powerful version as the McDonnell Douglas 210.
Variants
Breguet Br 940 Integral
Experimental prototype for concept demonstration, one built, powered by 4 298.3 kW (400 hp) Turbomeca Turmo II turboshaft engines.
Breguet Br 941
Prototype transport, one built, powered by 4 913.5 kW (1,225 hp) Turbomeca Turmo IIID turboshaft engines.
Breguet Br 941S
Production version for the French Air Force, an enlarged version of the 941, four built, powered by 4 1,081.3 kW (1,450 hp) Turbomeca Turmo IIID turboshaft engines.
Specifications
(Br 941S)
Crew
2
Capacity
57 civil passengers or 40 fully loaded troops or 24 stretchers
Length
23.75 m (77 ft 11 in)
Wingspan
23.4 m (76 ft 9 in)
Height
9.65 m (31 ft 8 in)
Wing area
83.8 m2 (902 sq ft)
Airfoil
NACA 63A416
Powerplant
4 × Turbomeca Turmo IIID turboprop engines,
1,119 kW (1,501 hp) each all four engines linked by transmission shafts