The Bréguet 790 Nautilus was a prototype French three-seat coastal patrol flying-boat designed and built by Bréguet Aviation to meet a requirement from the French navy.[1]
Development
The Nautilus had a high-set monoplane wing on a single-step hull, the wing being fabric covered and the hull all-metal.[1] The aircraft was powered by a 720 hp (537 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12XirsV-12 piston engine strut-mounted above the hull, driving a pusher propeller.[1]
The first of two prototypes flew in 1939 and performed well enough that a production order for 75 was placed.[1] The order was reduced to 45 in May 1940 in order to free production capacity for more urgently needed combat aircraft, but none were built following the German invasion.[1][2]
Variants
Bréguet 790
Basic three-seat coastal reconnaissance aircraft, powered by 540 kW (720 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs engine. Two prototypes built.[3]
