F-AJDB Short S.8 Calcutta
(c/n S.751)
Here's a rare image. In 1929 Short Brothers
built one Calcutta for the French Government.
It was well accepted when
tested by the French Navy and four more were built under licence
by Societe Anonyme des
Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Breguet (to give Breguet Aircraft its full
name). In
addition to building the Calcuttas, the agreement gave Breguet the
rights to use the
hull design in future
types. This resulted, in 1934, in the building of the generally
similar Breguet
520 Saigon for Air France (the two examples were actually
built for Air Union, but the French
national carrier
had been formed before they could be placed into service).