Breguet Alizé

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_Aliz%C3%A9

The Breguet Br.1050 Alizé (French: "Tradewind") was a French carrier-based
anti-submarine warfare aircraft. It was developed in the 1950s, based loosely on
the second prototype Breguet Vultur attack aircraft which had been modified into
the Breguet Br.965 Épaulard anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The Alizé was a low-wing monoplane of conventional configuration powered by a
single Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engine. It had a CSF radar system with a
retractable antenna dome in its belly. The cockpit accommodated a crew of three,
including pilot, radar operator, and sensor operator. The pilot was seated in
front on the left, the navigator in front on the right, and the sensor operator
sat sideways behind them. The landing gear was of tricycle configuration, with
the main gear retracting backwards into nacelles in the wings. The main gear had
dual wheels, and the front part of the nacelles accommodated sonobuoys. The
Alizé had a yoke-style arresting hook.

The internal weapons bay could accommodate a homing torpedo or depth charges,
and underwing stores pylons could carry bombs, depth charges, rockets, or
missiles. Typical underwing stores included 68 mm (2.68 in) rocket pods or AS.12
wire-guided antiship missiles.


Role
Anti-submarine aircraft

National origin
France

Manufacturer
Breguet Aviation

First flight
6 October 1956

Introduction
29 May 1959

Retired
2000

Primary users
French Navy
Indian Navy

Produced
1957-1962

Number built
89

The prototype Alizé first flew on 6 October 1956. It was exhibited at the Paris
Air Show at Paris Le Bourget Airport in May 1957.

A total of 89 examples of the Alizé were built between 1957 and 1962, including
two preproduction prototypes. 75 production aircraft were acquired by the
Aéronavale, with initial service delivery in March 1959. The Alizé went into
operation on the carriers Arromanches, Clémenceau and Foch, and were also used
in shore-based training. 12 were acquired by the Indian Navy. Some sources say
that there were five preproduction prototypes, which may mean some of the
prototypes were brought up to production standard and passed on to the
Aéronavale; and that India acquired 17 examples, which hints that they bought
five used aircraft from the Aéronavale.

The Indian Navy operated the Alizé from shore bases and from the light carrier
Vikrant. The Alizé was used for reconnaissance and patrol during India's 1961
liberation of Portuguese controlled Goa, and was also used for ASW patrol during
the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, during which one Alizé was shot down by a
Pakistan Air Force F-104 Starfighter. It was also instrumental in taking out
many gunboats unopposed during the war. The Alizé dwindled in numbers in the
Indian Navy during the 1980s, was relegated to shore-based patrol in 1987.
Nevertheless, they were employed that year in support of the Indian Peacekeeping
Force's Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, flying sorties against the LTTE and
crippling the merchant ship Progress Light. The type was finally phased out in
1991, replaced in its duties by ASW helicopters.

As late as 1997, the Aéronavale was still operating 24 examples for surface
patrol. The Alizé was used operationally during the NATO air campaign against
Yugoslavia over Kosovo in early 1999, with the aircraft flying off the carrier
Foch. The last Alizé was withdrawn from service in 2000 with the retirement of
the Foch.

Specifications (Bréguet Alizé)

General characteristics
•Crew: Three: pilot, radar operator, navigator
•Length: 13.86 m (45 ft 5¾ in)
•Wingspan: 15.60 m (51 ft 2 in)
•Height: 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in)
•Wing area: 36.0 m² (387.5 ft²)
•Empty weight: 5,700 kg (12,566 lb)
•Max. takeoff weight: 8,200 kg (18,078 lb)
•Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 21 turboprop, 1,565 kW (2,100 ehp)

Performance
•Maximum speed: 518 km/h (280 kn, 322 mph) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft), 460 km/h (248
knots, 286 mph) at sea level
•Cruise speed: 240-370 km/h (130-200 knots, 149-230 mph) (patrol speed)
•Range: 2,500 km (1,349 nmi, 1,553 mi)
•Endurance: 5 hr 10 min
•Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,250 ft)
•Rate of climb: 7.0 m/s (1,380 ft/min)
•Wing loading: 229 kg/m² (46.9 lb/ft²)
•Power/mass: 190 kW/kg (0.12 hp/lb)

Armament

•Torpedo or depth charges carried in internal bay
•Bombs, depth charges, rockets, or missiles carried on underwing pylons





*