SNCASO SO-4050 Vautour
| SNCASO SO-4050 Vautour | |
|---|---|
 Vautour IIA |
|
| Type: | Multipurpose fighter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
October 16, 1952 |
| Commissioning: |
1958 |
| Number of pieces: |
149 |
The SNCASO SO-4050 Vautour (Geier) was a twin-engine multi -role fighter aircraft produced by the French manufacturer Sud-Ouest .
description
The SO-4050 Vautour was preceded by various test aircraft, from which valuable experience for the Vautour could be gained. The mid-wing received as the experimental aircraft to 35 degrees zurückgepfeilte wings and tail surfaces. The retractable landing gear consisted of two main wheel pairs in tandem and small outrigger legs that could be retracted into the engine nacelles. The first SO-4050 made its maiden flight on October 16, 1952.
commitment
In addition to the French , the Israeli air force also used the SO-4050 Vautour. The French Air Force received the first machines in 1958. The last SO-4050 Vautour were not taken out of service until 1979. The aircraft was never used in combat operations by the French armed forces. Israel used the SO-4050 Vautour in the Six Day War and in the War of Attrition against Egypt and is said to have lost 17 machines in the process - two of which were made operational again after the fighting. In 1971, all Vautours were finally retired in Israel and replaced by the more modern and more powerful A-4 Skyhawk from US production.
variants
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- SO-4050-01 : two-seat fighter prototype with two turbojet engines SNECMA Atar 101B , each developing a thrust of 23.5 kN. The first flight was on October 16, 1952. Only one prototype was made.
- SO-4050-02 : single-seat variant for close air support , which was powered by two Atar 101D turbojet engines, each developing a thrust of 27.6 kN. The first flight of the only prototype of this variant was on December 16, 1953.
- SO-4050-03 : two-seat bomber variant powered by two Wright J65 turbojet engines. The first flight of the only prototype of this variant was on December 5, 1954.
In series production , the aircraft was produced in three versions, which differed only slightly from each other.
- IIA : single-seat variant for close air support, which was armed with four 30-mm cannons and bombs, which were either mounted on the aircraft or under the wings.
- IIN : two-seat interceptor , with either a DRAC-25AI or DRAC-32AI radar in the aircraft nose . The armament consisted of a cannon and air-to-air missiles . The name was later changed to II-1N .
- IIB : two-seat bomber.
In addition, some aircraft have been converted into special variants, for example as ECM or reconnaissance aircraft.
Production figures A total of 149 aircraft were built in the following variants:
- Prototypes : 3
- Pre-series machines : 6
- IIA : 30 (13 for France, 17 for Israel)
- IIB : 40 (36 for France, 4 for Israel)
- IIN : 70 (63 for France, 7 for Israel)
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data of the Vautour IIA |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 15.57 m |
| span | 15.10 m |
| Wing area | 45 m² |
| Wing extension | 5.07 |
| Wing loading |
|
| height | 4.94 m |
| Empty mass | 10,000 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 21,000 kg |
| Top speed | Mach 0.9 (at sea level) |
| Service ceiling | 15,200 m |
| Climb performance | 60 m / s |
| Max. Range | 5,400 km |
| Engines | two turbojet engines SNECMA Atar 101E-3 with 34.3 kN each |
| Thrust-to-weight ratio |
|
Armament
The armament of the SO-4050 Vautour IIA variant consisted of four 30 mm DEFA cannons, each with 100 rounds, and bombs, which could either be carried in the aircraft and / or under the wings. In the machine the maximum bomb load was 2725 kg and outside the aircraft 4400 kg. The Vautour was also able to carry a retractable fuselage container for 122 × 68 mm SNEB rockets in the weapon bay.
