Breguet Br.280 • wp.archivoaereo.com

The Br.280 was an unequal-span biplane developed by the French company Societé Anonyme des Atelliers d’Aviation Louis Breguet. It was created based on the Breguet Br.26T transport aircraft, equipped with a 500 hp Renault 12Jb engine, and had the same passenger capacity.

Table of Contents

Development and Early Flights

The prototype, the Bre.280T, made its first flight in the autumn of 1928. This was followed by the construction of eight production aircraft, each fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) liquid-cooled Renault 12Jb engine.

From 1929, the aircraft were operated by “Air-Union” on routes connecting Paris and Switzerland, and less regularly, between Paris and London. The surviving machines were transferred in 1933 to the newly established “Air France” airline.

Br.280 Variants

Two additional variants of the aircraft were produced. The first, the Br.281T, featured a 450 hp (336 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich 12Ed engine. Two aircraft were built for “Air-Union,” but they were soon converted: one into a Bre.280T and the second into a Bre.284T.

Additionally, there was the Bre.284T, whose prototype made its first flight shortly after the Bre.280T. Its main distinction was a 580 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Lbrx engine. The “Breguet” firm kept the prototype, while seven production aircraft were delivered to customers: five to “Air-Union” and two to “Air-Orient,” which used the aircraft on its Far East routes. Similar to the Bre.280T, the surviving Bre.284T aircraft were transferred to “Air France.”

Technical Specifications

Modification	Br.280
Wingspan, m	17.25
Aircraft length, m	12.12
Wing area, m2	55.86
Empty weight	2040
Maximum takeoff weight	3320
Engine type	1 Piston engine Renault 12Jb
Power, hp	1 x 500
Maximum speed, km/h	220
Cruising speed, km/h	198
Practical range, km	1100
Service ceiling, m	4700
Crew, crew members	2
Payload	6 passengers