Breguet 14A2
Model Airplane News Cover Art for November, 1963
by Jo Kotula
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The Breguet 14 (Breguet AV Type XIV) was a French biplane bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of World War I. It was built in very large numbers and production continued for many years after the end of the war. It was the first aircraft in mass production to use large amounts of metal rather than wood in its structure. This allowed the airframe to be lighter than a wooden airframe of the same strength, in turn making the aircraft very fast and agile for its size, able to outrun many of the fighters of the day. Its strong construction was able to sustain much damage, it was easy to handle and had good performance. The Breguet 14 is considered one of the best aircraft of the war.

  

Photos of the Breguet 14A2
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The aircraft was designed by Louis Breguet as a reconnaissance aircraft and bomber. The Allies ordered 150 reconnaissance aircraft (A2) and 100 bombers (B2). The A2 was equipped with a camera, with some carrying radios. The lower wing of the B2 was modified to accommodate bomb racks. Other variants included a long-range single-seat bomber, long-range reconnaissance,floatplane, air ambulance and trainer. Following successful deployment by the French, the type was also ordered by the Belgian Army (40 aircraft) and the United States Army Air Service (over 600 aircraft). By the end of World War I, some 5,500 Breguet 14s had been produced.

The type continued to be widely used after the war, equipping the French occupation forces in Germany and being deployed to support French troops in the colonies. A special version was developed for the harsh conditions encountered overseas. These saw service in putting down uprisings in Syria and Morocco, in Vietnam and in France's attempted intervention in the Russian Civil War. The last trainer examples were not withdrawn from French military service until 1932.

Post war, Breguet had also begun to manufacture dedicated civil versions. The "Salon" carried two passengers in a specially modified fuselage. 100 mail planes were custom-built for Pierre Latécoère's fledgling airline, Lignes Aeriennes Latécoère. After changing name to CGEA, the airline used among others 106 Breguet 14s for flights over Sahara desert. When production finally ceased in 1928, a total of about 8,000 versions had been built.

Here is a video of the Breguet 14A2:

Jo Kotula revisited this airplane in the "Box Art" for the Aurora kit for the Breguet 14A2.

Aurora Plastic Model of the Breguet 14A2
Artwork by Jo Kotula
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