Bréguet 1001 Taon

In 1953 European aircraft manufacturers were invited by NATO to submit aircraft for evaluation for the "LWSF" (Light Weight Strike Fighter) role. The Taon (en: Gadfly, but also an anagram of NATO or the French version OTAN) was designed to meet the requirement. The Taon was a small mid-wing monoplane with swept wings and tail surfaces and retractable tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft was powered by a Bristol Orpheus BOr.3 turbojet. The company was contracted to build three prototypes, the first aircraft flying on the 26 July 1957. The second aircraft incorporated improvements and had a slightly longer fuselage. Development was discontinued and only two aircraft were built.

The Taon was evaluated without success, along with other designs which included the Fiat G.91, Northrop N-156, Dassault Étendard VI, Sud-Est Baroudeur and Aerfer Ariete. The NATO nations did not order a common aircraft and the French government preferred to pursue development of the Étendard.

The aircraft set an international speed record for a 1,000 km (620 mi) closed circuit with a speed of 1,046.65 km/h (650.36 mph) at 7,620 m (25,000 ft) on 25 April 1958. On 23 July, it broke the record again at a speed of 1,075 km/h (667.98 mph).

Br.1001

Prototype powered by a Bristol Orpheus BOr.3 engine, two built.

Br.1002

Proposed missile-carrying interceptor, not built.

Br.1004

Proposed production version powered by a Bristol Orpheus BOr.12 engine, not built.

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 11.68 m (38 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 14.7 m² (158 sq ft)
• Gross weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Siddeley Orpheus B.Or.3 turbojet, 21.6 kN (4,850 lbf) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,194 km/h (742 mph, 645 kn)

Armament

• Guns: (proposed) four 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Colt-Browning machine-guns

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Dassault Étendard IV
• Fiat G.91
• Hawker Hunter

• Buttler, Tony (2015). X-Planes of Europe. Vol. II: Military Prototype Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946–1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-90210-948-0.
• Carbonel, Jean-Christophe (2016). French Secret Projects. Vol. 1: Post War Fighters. Manchester, UK: Crecy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-91080-900-6.
• Cuny, Jean & Leyvastre, Pierre (1977). Les Avions Breguet (1940/1971). DOCAVIA (in French). Vol. 6. Paris: Editions Larivière. OCLC 440863702.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.