(SNCASO) SO.8000 Narval @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • SNCASO SO.8000 Narval SNCASO SO.8000 Narval
    SNCASO SO.8000 Narval

SNCASO SO.8000 Narval

The SNCASO SO.8000 "Narval" is an experimental twin-boom pusher aircraft designed by the French manufacturer SNCASO in 1949 at the request of the Aéronavale who wanted a heavy fighter capable of evolving from an aircraft carrier, particularly to carry out ground attack missions.

Development

After the war, SNCASO began the design of a long-range fighter and proposed it to the French Navy. A contract was then signed for two prototypes on May 31, 1946 (No. 5161/46). Initially, those aircraft were to be fitted with a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, while the standard aircraft would be equipped with an Hispano-Suiza 12Z. However the cost of the Griffon engine and 12Z development delays meant that the prototypes received an Arsenal 12H-02 engine (a copy of the German Junkers Jumo 213A).

In March 1948, the Navy planned to order five pre-production and 65 production aircraft to be delivered between September 1949 and March 1951. They were to replace the Dauntless SDBs of the Arromanches aircraft carrier.

In October 1948, SNCASO proposed to the Navy to develop a jet version of the aircraft, a project called SO.8010. However, the Navy had already selected three other jet fighter projects and refused.

Both aircraft were built but due to modifications made during construction the number 2 prototype was the first to be ready. After four months of ground tests and taxiing, this aircraft finally made his first flight on April 1, 1949 at the Orleans-Bricy airbase, in the hands of test pilot Jacques Guignard. Eight months of development testing followed which revealed numerous defects to the point that the aircraft was banned from flying in December 1949. Its flying qualities were considered dangerous, especially at low speed. Performance was very poor and the engine was unreliable. The report prepared by the Flight Test Center in January 1950 was overwhelming.

Despite all the prototype number 1 made its first flight December 30, 1950. The Official Services informed SNCASO that the two prototypes were to be given to their user within three months but no order was to be considered. The program was abandoned. Indeed the performances were not at the rendezvous and propeller aircraft had become obsolete in view of jet fighters used by other nations. Prototype number 2 made its 43rd and final flight on January 5, 1950 while number 1 never flew again. In April 1950 the market was being liquidated at the expense of the industrialist. Finally, SNCASO only managed to get paid for about three quarters of the cost of the two aircraft (357 million French francs).

Characteristics

Taking the dual-boom configuration then in vogue among fighters of the time, such as the de Havilland Vampire or Saab 21, the Narval was propelled in an original way by a contrarotative propeller system located at the back of the fuselage. The wings were placed in a low position and had a laminar profile. The leading edge had a double-swept angle design (24° in the centre and 13.5° on the outside). The trailing edge received full span Fowler flaps. The fuselage of ovoid section received from the front to the back: the guns, the cockpit equipped with an ejection seat (which offered to the pilot an excellent visibility), the tanks, the radiator and finally the engine. The aircraft had a retractable tricycle landing gear and the front leg folded back while the main gear folded inward in the thickness of the wing. In order to save space in the hangar of aircraft carriers, the aircraft could adopt a "kneeling" position by partially folding its front leg so that the aircraft thus inclined could fit into each other. The half-wings had to fold electrically and an arresting hook was to be installed.

The armament of the Narval was to consist of six 20 mm MG 151 canons superimposed by three on each side of the nose and a ton of bombs or eight 90 mm rockets. Radar and radio equipment were to be installed in the front boom fairings.

The aircraft was powered by an Arsenal 12H-02 engine (future SNECMA) delivering 2,250 horsepower (on the second prototype). The 12H-02 was a copy of a German Junkers Jumo 213 engine recovered after the war by French engineers. The doublet of Chauvière contrarotative four blade propellers was 2.7 m in diameter. The maximum speed was to be 730 km/h (394 kts), practical ceiling 10,000 m (32,800 ft), maximum range 4,500 km (2,430 NM) at 530 km/h (286 kts) and the Narval had to be able to land at 155 km/h (84 kts). It is not certain that these theoretical performances were ever achieved, just as it seems that neither of the two prototypes ever flew with their armament.

 

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SNCASO SO.8000 Narval

  • Role : Carrier-based fighter and strike aircraft.
  • National origin : France.
  • Manufacturer : Sud-Ouest (SNCASO).
  • First flight : 1 April 1949.
  • Retired : January 1950.
  • Number built : 2.

    • Specifications (SO.8000)

  • Crew : 1.
  • Length : 11.83 m (38 ft 10 in).
  • Height : 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in).
  • Wingspan : 11.77 m (38 ft 7 in).
  • Wing area : 26.5 m² (285 sq ft).
  • Empty weight : 4,821 kg (10,628 lb).
  • Gross weight : 7,000 kg (15,432 lb).
  • Maximum speed : 730 km/h (454 mph; 394 kts) at 8,000 m (27,887 ft).
  • Ceiling : 9,800 m (32,152 ft).
  • Range : 4,500 km (2,430 Nm).
  • Powerplant : One Arsenal 12HO2 (Junkers Jumo 213) inverted V-12 piston engine.
  • Power : 1,680 kW (2,250 hp).
  • Armament : The SO.8000 Narval was to be equipped with :
    • Six 20 mm cannons.
    • Underwing hard points that could accommodate 2,205 lb (1,000 kg) of ordinance.However, it is unlikely that the prototypes were ever armed.

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