Development of the Breguet 393T three-engined passenger transport began with the Breguet 390T prototype, an all-metal sesquiplane which made its first flight in February 1931. During a test flight on 3 July 1931 a propeller broke away, the pilot losing his life when his parachute failed to open after he abandoned the aircraft. The Breguet 390T was completely destroyed in the ensuing crash.
A single Breguet 392T followed, replacing the Bre.390T's 179kW Gnome-Rhone 5Kd radials with 224kW Hispano-Suiza 9Qc engines, and completed as a freight carrier. Only one example appeared and it was followed later in 1933 by the prototype Breguet 393T. It differed by changes in interplane struts, by having fabric instead of metal fuselage covering, and by introducing a tailwheel and spat fairings for the mainwheel units. This aircraft was delivered to Air France in July 1934, being followed by two more examples later that year. The remaining three aircraft ordered by Air France were delivered in 1935.
The Breguet 393T had accommodation for a crew of two and 10 passengers, each passenger having a comfortable armchair beside a large window. The type flew regular routes between Toulouse and Casablanca, the Mediterranean leg of the route to South America, and later on the Natal-Buenos Aires stage in Brazil. Their final employment was on several European routes radiating from Paris.
Bre.390T Engines: 3 x 179kW Gnome-Rhone 5Kd radials
Bre.392T Engines: 3 x 224kW Hispano-Suiza 9Qc
Bre.393T Engines: 3 x Gnome-Rhone 7Kd Titan Major radial, 261kW Take-off weight: 6000 kg / 13228 lb Loaded weight: 3966 kg / 8744 lb Wingspan: 20.71 m / 67 ft 11 in Length: 14.76 m / 48 ft 5 in Wing area: 66.46 sq.m / 715.37 sq ft Max. speed: 249 km/h / 155 mph Cruise speed: 235 km/h / 146 mph Ceiling: 5850 m / 19200 ft Range: 975 km / 606 miles