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Louis Charles Bréguet (1880 - 1955)


breguet_portrait_1_200.jpg Louis Charles Bréguet
http://www.mae.ncsu.edu

Louis Charles Bréguet was a famous French aviator, airplane designer, and industrialist.

Bréguet was born in Paris in 1880 and studied electrical engineering at the Lycée Condorcet, Lycée Carnot, and the E Cole Superieure d'Electricite. After finishing school he went to work at the electrical engineering firm of his father. By 1909 he built his first airplane and devoted the rest of his life to aviation.


Louis Charles Bréguet
La Brayelle near Douai, June, 1909
http://pgts.free.fr/etudegh/



During the first World War his airplanes were being mass produced by the French airforce. In 1919 he created a commercial airline company which later became Air France. His airplanes were able to set several long range records in the 20's and 30's. His name is generally associated with the range equations. However, the reason is historically unknown because his work is not documented. He died on May 4, 1955. [Christopher Debruhl]


Louis Charles Bréguet
http://www.wwiaviation.com

Louis Charles Bréguet, French Aviation Pioneer, Engineer and Industrialist, (b. January 2, 1880, Paris, France, d. May 5, 1955) developed an early interest in aviation technology. He developed a wind tunnel in 1905 which would measure and evaluate the effects of airflow on airfoils.

Bréguet was pioneer aircraft designer who understood the need for pre-flight experimentation and testing. His first aircraft was a rugged biplane produced in 1909. This aircraft set speed records,and standards of quality accepted in the aviation industry.

Bréguet was very successful during World War I. The company produced over 8000 Bréguet XIV reconnaissance aircraft for the Allied Forces. The Bréguet XIX made history in the postwar years as a long distance aircraft capable of flying across oceans and continents.

In 1919, Louis Bréguet established a commercial air transportation company, Compagnie Des Messageries Avienne, now named Air France.


1910 - Bréguet Biplane
http://www.chicagocentennialofflight.org

The 1910 Bréguet biplane designed and built by Louis Bréguet and based on his aircraft featured at the 1909 Reims International Air Meet, found ready customers for its standard tail, tractor engine, and biplane wing configuration. This design was to remain the recognizable silhouette of aircraft for the next two decades


Louis C. Bréguet : Engineer-Industrialist and French Aviation Pioneer
www.allstar.fiu.edu

Louis Charles Bréguet was born into a family tradition of engineering science. He developed an early interest in the fledgling aeronautic technology and in 1905 developed a sophisticated wind tunnel in which he was able to measure and evaluate in depth the effects of airflow on airfoils.

He was among the few pioneer aircraft designers who understood the vital need for pre-flight experimentation and testing, and the urgency of highest quality construction for safety.

His first aircraft was produced in 1909, a rugged biplane of high quality and performance. It not only became notable for establishing speed records, but also set the standards of quality accepted throughout the aviation industry. In 1911, his interest in air transportation gave him the distinction of being the first to carry 12 people aloft in an aircraft.

World War I assured the success of his company as they produced some 8000 of the famed Bréguet XIV reconnaissance aircraft for the Allied Forces, thereby contributing to victory and the emergence of air power. His more advanced Bréguet XIX made history in the postwar years for its ability to fly long distances across oceans and continents.

In 1919, Louis Bréguet established a commercial air transportation company, Compagnie Des Messageries Avienne, which now spans the world under the name Air France, and under Bréguet's technical guidance the Societe de Avions maintained prominence in the French aviation industry in production of civil and military aircraft.


Louis Bréguet
http://www.europe-autographs.com

Louis Bréguet (21/1/1890 - 4/5/1955, France), contructeur et pionnier de l'aéronautique.

En 1905 il travaillait déjà - avec son frère Jacques et Charles Richet - sur un projèt de gyroplane, dont la première ascension avec pilote eut lieu en 1907.

Pendant la Grande Guerre, Louis Bréguet a notamment développé les premiers bombardiers français: le Bréguet-Michelin en 1915 et le Bréguet-14 en 1917 (moteur Renault 300 ch, 170 km/h, plafond 5.800 m, autonomie 3 h, 1.600 exemplaires construits).

A partir de 1935, il retourna au développement du gyroplane. Il fut un des pionniers du développement de l'hélicoptère, avec le russe Sikorsky.


Louis Bréguet : Pionnier, ingénieur, pilote, chef d'industrie
http://perso.wanadoo.fr

Son père Antoine Louis Bréguet, polytechnicien, spécialiste des moteurs électriques, dirigeait la Maison Bréguet, rue Didot , Paris(14). Il décéda très jeune, alors que Louis n'avait que deux ans.

Reçu major de l'École Supérieure d'Electricité en 1900, ingénieur à l'usine de Douai de la Maison Bréguet, il s'intéresse très tôt aux machines volantes, encouragé et aidé par le Professeur Charles Richet, ami de son père, et par son frère Jacques, né en 1882, polytechnicien, ingénieur en chef de la Maison Bréguet.

Il s'intéresse d'abord au "Gyroplane", patronyme spécifique suggéré par le Pr.Richet: Gyroplane n°ree;1 en 1907. Puis aux aéroplanes en 1909, qu'il apprend à piloter lui-même. Il obtient le Brevet de Pilote n°ree;52 de l'Aéro Club de France.

La Société Anonyme des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Bréguet est créée en 1911.

Puis suite à l'intérêt de la Marine, il s'intéresse aux hydravions et gagne la grande Médaille d'Or du ministère de la Marine en 1913 à Monaco.

En 1914, compte tenu du développement de la Société, il crée le site de Villacoublay: usine et école de pilotage.

Au début de la guerre il est affecté, à sa demande, comme sergent-pilote à l'escadrille de défense aérienne du camp retranché de Paris. C'est sur le Bréguet de reconnaissance équipé d'un moteur de 160CV qu'il effectue, fin août 1914, la reconnaissance historique qui conduira à la victoire de la Marne.

Puis ce sera la série des fameux Br 14 (5500 avions produits)....more


Chronologie de Bréguet : 1906 - 1918
http://perso.wanadoo.fr

1906/07 Atelier de Douai : Gyroplanes I et II

1908 - Société des Ateliers díAviation Bréguet-Richet : Avions Bréguet no.1,1bis, 2

1909 - 3 juillet, au meeting de DOUAI: présentation du premier avion Bréguet

1910 - Léon BATHIAT: premier Pilote díessai Bréguet (autre que Louis Bréguet)

1911 - Création de la Société Anonyme des Ateliers díAviation Louis Bréguet

1912 - Première réalisation díhydravions: HU1, 2 3

1913/14 - Création du site de Villacoublay

1916 - Premier vol du Br 14A2 : 21 novembre à Villacoublay, pilote Louis Bréguet, passager l'ingénieur Vullierme

En 1918, il y aura plus de 2000 employés (série des Br14)

...continues 1918 - 1990

Références:

Michelet, G., Bréguet, Edition France-Empire 1963
Cuny, J. and Leyvastre, P., Les Avions Bréguet (1940/1971), Docavia/Editions Larivière 1977


Gallery

The Bréguet Gyroplanes 1, 1907 and 2, 1908


breguet-richet_gyro07_1_350.jpg

Bréguet Gyroplane 1, 1907

http://avia.russian.ee


Bréguet "Gyroplane" 1907
http://avia.russian.ee

When it rose vertically from the ground with its pilot in the late summer of 1907, the Gyroplane No.1 built by Louis and Jacques Bréguet in association with Professor Charles Richet had to be steadied by a man stationed at the extremity of each of the four arms supporting the rotors.


breguet-richet_gyro07_2_350.jpg

Bréguet-Richet Gyroplane 1, 1907


It cannot, therefore, take the credit for being the first helicopter to make a free flight, even though the ground helpers contributed nothing towards the lifting power of the rotors; but it was the first machine to raise itself, with a pilot, vertically off the ground by means of a rotating-wing system of lift.


breguet-richet_gyro07_3_350.jpg

Bréguet-Richet Gyroplane 1, 1907

Frédéric Boulanger

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Basically, the Bréguet machine consisted of a rectangular central chassis of steel tubing supporting the powerplant and the pilot; from each corner of this chassis there radiated an arm, also of steel tube construction, at the extremity of which was mounted a fabric-covered 4-blade biplane rotor, making a total of 32 small lifting surfaces. One pair of diagonally opposed rotors rotated in a clockwise direction, the other pair moving anti-clockwise.


breguet-richet_gyro07_4_350.jpg

Bréguet-Richet Gyroplane 1, 1907

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The pilot, M.Volumard, was reputedly chosen at least partly because of his small stature - he weighed only 68kg. Authorities differ over the date of the Bréguet machine's first flight at Douai, 24 August and 19 September 1907 being quoted with equal assurance; on this occasion the aircraft rose to about 0.60m. Take-off to some 1.50m was achieved during a test on 29 September, and similar heights were reached in several subsequent tests, but the Bréguet-Richet aircraft was neither controllable nor steerable in a horizontal plane.


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Bréguet-Richet Gyroplane 2, 1908

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p. 73


In 1908 the Bréguet-Richet collaboration produced their Gyroplane No.2, powered by a 55hp Renault engine and having two forward-tilting 2-blade rotors with a diameter of 7.85m and, in addition, fixed wings giving an extra 50m2 of lifting surface. This machine made a number of successful flights in the summer of 1908, but was severely damaged in a 'heavy' landing on 19 September.


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Bréguet-Richet 2bis, 1908

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.73


In rebuilt form as the No.2bis it was displayed statically at Paris in December 1908 and made one test flight in the following April, but a month later the Bréguet premises were wrecked by a hurricane. This, and the shortage of contemporary engines with an adequate power/weight ratio, caused Bréguet to abandon rotary-winged development until the appearance of the Bréguet-Dorand design in the 1930s.

Munson, Kenneth, Helicopters And Other Rotorcraft Since 1907, 1968

At last, after the turn of the century, a new lightweight power plant became available. Fitted to the early automobiles and box-kite airplanes, the gasoline engine began to prove itself. In 1907, four years after the Wright brothers had flown the first controllable airplane, French designer Louis Bréguet built a primitive helicopter that could lift a man into the air....more


breguet_2bis_drawing_350.jpg

Bréguet-Richet 2bis, 1908

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Charles Robert Richet (1850-1935)
http://pgts.free.fr/etudegh/

Fils du docteur Alfred Richet (1816-1891). Docteur en médecine (1877), professeur de physiologie à la faculté de m édecine de Paris (1887-1927), nommé en 1878 rédacteur en chef puis en 1881 directeur de la Revue Scientifique, connu pour ses travaux sur les allergies et l'origine de crétinisme, éditeur du Journal de Physiologie (1917-1929), prix Nobel de médecine en 1913 pour ses recherches sur les 'anaphylaxies.

Elève de Jules- Etienne Marey (1830-1904), inventeur de la chronophotographie dont les instruments utilisés pour ses expériences étaient fabriqués chez Breguet, Richet collabore avec Victor Tatin (1843-1913) à la réalisation de machines volantes, dès 1890. Richet fait voler en 1896 à Carqueiranne (Var) un aéroplane à vapeur.


Bréguet-Richet 3, 1909


breguet_1_1909_4_350.jpg

Bréguet-Richet 3, 1909

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War.
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.74


Bréguet-Richet 3 renamed Bréguet 1, 1909


breguet_1_1909_2_350.jpg

Bréguet 1, Reims, 1909

http://pgts.free.fr/etudegh/

Bréguet 1 (1909)
Envergure (plan supérieur) 13,70 mètre
Envergure (plan inférieur) 12,00 mètre
Surface portante 40 m 2
Longueur 9,15 mètre
Train d'atterrissage Patins et roues
Nombre de places Une
Moteur V8 Renault de 60 ch
Hélice Tripale de 2,50 m
Poids à vide 580 kg
Poids maximum en charge 800 kg
Vitesse 60 km/h
breguet_1_1_350.jpg

Bréguet 1, 1909


breguet_1_1909_3_350.jpg

LC Bréguet, Bréguet 1, possibly at Rheims, 1909

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Bréguet 2 (sometimes called 4), 1909


breguet_2or4_350.jpg

Bréguet 2, (4) 1909

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War.
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.74


breguet_1910_rouen_350.jpg

LC Bréguet, Bréguet 2, (4) Rebuilt for Rouen Meeting, June, 1910

http://members.shaw.ca/flyingaces/archive1.htm



Bréguet 3, 1910


breguet_1910_military_2_350.jpg

Bréguet 3, 1910

The Aviation Buffs Website

Bréguet 3, 1910
Envergure (plan supérieur) 15,99 mètre
Envergure (plan inférieur) 13,00 mètre
Surface portante 42,25 m 2
Longueur 9,20 mètre
Système de commande Gauchissement
Nombre de places Deux
Moteur V8 Renault de 60ch, (L1) ou 70ch (L2)
Hélice Bipale de 2,90 m Poids à vide 703 kg
Poids maximum en charge 1150 kg
Vitesse 80 km/h


breguet_1910_military_4_350.jpg

Bréguet 3, 1910

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War.
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.74


breguet_1910_mil_5_350.jpg

Bréguet 3, 1910

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breguet_1910_mil_6_350.jpg

Bréguet 3, 1910

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Bréguet 3, U Series, 1912


breguet_b2_1912_1_350.jpg

Bréguet U1, 1912

Photo : Lars Hendricksson ©http://avro.sys.nu

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The Bréguet 3 was elected as the best biplane at "Concours Militaire" in Reims, France 1911. The type was provided to several armed forces before the outbreak of WWI, including one aircraft that was purchased by the new Swedish Army Aviation 1912 for evaluation. The aircraft was of the variation U1, which means that it was fitted with a Canton-Unné engine (type Salmson). The engine was of a 85 hp water-cooled radial, non-rotating design.

The Swedish Bréguet got the designation B2 (Biplane No.2). The hard-flown B2 was dogged by bad luck and crashed a lot of times. After a last incident 1915 (the engine broke down at 10 meters altitude and engine parts "fell to the ground as rain", it was never repaired again. However, many original parts was saved and the aircraft was rebuilt and is now displayed at Flygvapenmusum, located at Malmen, where B2 served most of its active time.

Length: 8,35 m. Span: 12,7 m. Maximum take-off weight: 790 kg. Max. speed: 105 km/h.

Bréguet 3, 1911
Envergure (plan supérieur) 13,70 mètre
Envergure (plan inférieur) 12,00 mètre
Longueur 9,15 mètre
Système de commande Ailerons
Nombre de places Trois
Moteur Canton-Unné 85ch (U1)
Hélice Bipale de 2,90 m
Poids à vide 703 kg
Poids maximum en charge 1150 kg
Vitesse 80 km/h

Bréguet U3, 1912
Envergure (plan supérieur) 13,70 mètre
Envergure (plan inférieur) 12,00 mètre
Longueur 9,15 mètre
Système de commande Ailerons
Nombre de places Cinq
Moteur Canton-Unné 105 ou 120ch (U2)
Hélice Bipale de 2,90 m
Poids à vide 690 kg
Poids maximum en charge 1280 kg
Vitesse 110 km/h


breguet_b2_1912_2_350.jpg

Bréguet U1, 1912

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034-08-MVC-646F_350.jpg

Bréguet U1, 85hp. 7cyl. Canton-Unné, 1912

Frédéric Boulanger

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breguet_b2_1912_3_350.jpg

Bréguet U1, 85hp. 7cyl. Canton-Unné, 1912

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breguet_b2_1912_5_350.jpg

Bréguet de René Moineau, U2 120hp. 9cyl. Canton-Unné, 1912


breguet_b2_1912_8_250.jpg

Bréguet U2, 1912

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breguet_b2_1912_9_350.jpg

Bréguet G4, 140hp. Gnome, 1912

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breguet_b2_1912_11_350.jpg

Bréguet G4, 140hp. Gnome, 1912

http://members.rogers.com/

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breguet_1912_military_5_350.jpg

Bréguet U2, 1912

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War.
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.74,75



breguet_workers_3_350.jpg

'Another day at the Bréguet factory'

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Gordon Bennett Racer, 1912


breguet_gbr_1912_1_350.jpg

Gordon Bennett Racer, 160hp. Gnome, 1912

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Bréguet Hydravion H-U2, 1912 and H-U3, 1913


breguet_b2_1912_6_350.jpg

Bréguet Hydravion H-U3, Monaco, April, 1913

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Bréguet H-U2, 1912
Envergure (plan supérieur) 15,75 m
Envergure (plan inférieur) 14,00 m
Longueur 11,50 m
Flotteurs Deux flotteurs type Fabre
Moteur Salmson 115 ch
Hélice Bipale de 2,80 m
Poids à vide 905 kg
Poids maximum en charge 1350 kg
Vitesse 110 km/h

Bréguet H-U3, 1913
Envergure (plan supérieur) 15,75 m
Envergure (plan inférieur) 14,00 m
Longueur 11,50 m
Flotteurs Central type Tellier
Moteur Salmson 200 ch
Hélice Quadripale de 2,80 m
Poids à vide 1006 kg
Poids maximum en charge 1450 kg
Vitesse 140 km/h


breguet_b2_1912_7_350.jpg

Bréguet Hydravion H-U2, 1912 or H-U3, 1913

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breguet_h-u2_hydro_1_350.jpg

Bréguet Hydravion H-U2, 1912 or H-U3, 1913


breguet_h-u2_hydro_2_350.jpg

Bréguet Hydravion H-U2, 1912 or H-U3, 1913


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Bréguet Hydravion, H-U3, Monaco, 1913

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breguet_g4_147_350.jpg

Bréguet Hydravion G4, 147

http://pgts.free.fr/etudegh/

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Bréguet AG.4, 1914


breguet_ag4_350.jpg



Bréguet AU.3, 1914


No image as yet available

Bréguet AU.3, Tractor, 200hp. Canton-Unné, 1914

Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War.
Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.76



Bréguet BU.3, 1914


breguet_5_2_350.jpg

Bréguet BU.3, Pusher, 200hp. Canton-Unné, 1914

Believe this to be machine mentioned but not pictured in Opdyke, Leonard E., French Aeroplanes Before the Great War. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, Pa., 1999, p.76



Bréguet-Michelin B2, 1916


breguet_5_1_350.jpg

Bréguet-Michelin B2, 1916

http://www.hot.ee


breguet_hbm_1_350.jpg

Bréguet-Michelin B2, 1916

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breguet_hbm_2_350.jpg

Bréguet-Michelin B2, 1916

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Bréguet 5, 1915; 5 Chasseur d'escorte, 1916


breguet_m5_1_350.jpg

Bréguet 5, 1915

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breguet_m5_350.jpg

Bréguet 5, 1915

Bréguet 5 chasseur d'escorte, 1915-16
Envergure 17,58 m
Longueur 9,90 m
Equipage Deux hommes
Moteur V12 Renault EC 235 ch
Armement Canon de 37 mm Hotchkiss en tourelle avant
Poids à vide 1 350 kg
Poids maximum en charge 2 150 kg
Plafond 3.700 mètres
Vitesse 140 km/h
Autonomie 6 heures 15 mn


Bréguet 11 "Corsaire", 1916


Bréguet SN, 1916


breguet_sn_1_350.jpg

Bréguet SN, Camp Retranché de Paris, 1916

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Bréguet 14, 1917


breguet_14a2_1_350.jpg

Bréguet 14A2, 1917


Bréguet Br.14, (A2, Reconnaissance; B2, Bomber)
http://www.wwiaviation.com/bombers_allies.shtml

Used throughout the war, the innovative Breguet Br.14 was a highly successful biplane used by the French, Belgian and American air services. Designed by Louis Breguet in 1916, it was one of the first aircraft constructed with duralumin in the airframe.

Rugged and versatile, it was mass produced in several variations, including a seaplane model. Before the end of the war, the Br.14 saw service as a reconnaissance aircraft, a day/night bomber and an air ambulance. This was one of the best bombers the French used. It was produced up until 1926.

Bréguet 14
Country : France
Type : Reconnaissance (A2) and Bomber (B2)
Entered Service : Summer of 1917
Number Built : About 5,500 during World War I
Engine : Renault 12 Fox, 12 cylinder, 300 hp
Wing Span : 47 ft 11/4 in 14.36 m
Length : 29 ft 8.87 m
Height : 10 ft 10 in 3.3 m Gross Weight : 3,892 lb 1,765 kg
Speed : 110 mph 177 km/h at 6,560 ft 2,000 m
Ceiling : 19,030 ft 5,800 m
Endurance : 23/4 hours
Crew : 2
Armament : 2-3 machine guns 661 lb 300 kg of bombs


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Bréguet 14A1, 1917



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Bréguet 14B2, 1917


breguet_14b2_2_350.jpg

Bréguet 14B2, 1917


breguet_14b2_3_350.jpg

Bréguet 14B2, 1917

http://www.pilots-n-planes-ww1.com


breguet_14xx_2_350.jpg

Bréguet 14, 1917


breguet_14_in_flight_250.jpg

Bréguet 14, 1917

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breguet_14_mechanics_350.jpg

Bréguet 14 and groundcrew, c.1917

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Bréguet 17, 1918


breguet_17_1_350.jpg

Bréguet 17, 1918


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