Breguet 14

Breguet Aviation · France · first flew 1916 · bomber

The Breguet 14 was a French two-seat biplane bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service in 1917 and became one of the most important Allied aircraft of World War I. Its advanced metal structure made it exceptionally strong and durable.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Unequal-span biplane with metal-framed fuselage
• Single large rotary or inline engine in distinctive angular cowling
• Gunner's position with ring-mount in rear cockpit

Recognised by its unequal-span biplane wings, angular aluminum-skinned fuselage, and the characteristic exhaust stacks along the upper engine cowling — a purposeful, workmanlike silhouette.

Specifications

• The Breguet 14 has a length of 8.87 m (29 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 14.36 m (47 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 184 km/h (114 mph).
• Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed by Louis Breguet, the Breguet 14 was faster and more capable than most contemporaries and was produced in huge numbers — over 8,000 built. It saw intensive service on the Western Front and postwar became a staple of early French airmail routes, flying the famous Ligne Aéropostale across Africa and South America.

Variants

The B2 was the main bomber variant; the A2 was the reconnaissance version. The T version was adapted for postal and early airline use, with numerous national air forces operating the type through the 1920s.

Where you'll see it

Served with France, the United States, Belgium, and many other nations; postwar civil and airmail operations extended its career well into the late 1920s.

Related aircraft

• Breguet AG.4
• Breguet 19
• Breguet Type I
• Breguet Br.521 Bizerte
• AEG G.IV
• AEG R.I
• Airco DH.3
• Airco DH.4

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