French Fabulous Forties and Fifties

Here are two photos of the AAS 01, from J. Lacroze / Ph. Ricco ” René Leduc” :

Good grief! (no pun intended, I hasten to add!) Having built one in 1/72 I knew the He177 was big but that thing is VAST!

Adrian

Types and sources …

1. SE.2410 Grognard , J.Cuny, Les Avions de Combat Francais”

2. N.2100 Norazur , J.-C. Fayer “Les Prototypes de l’Aviation Francais 1945 – 60”

3. NC. 211 Cormoran , P.Gaillard “Les Prototypes de Transport Francais”

4. NC.3021 Belphegor , J.-C. Fayer “Vols d’Essais”

5. M.D.80 ABC, www.dassault-aviation.com via Luc Berger

5. Maybe not so easy ?

4. Easy ?

3. … easy, too !

2. …easy …

And here are some more, you can have a guess, or just scroll down .

1. Easy !

Here are two photos of the AAS 01, from J. Lacroze / Ph. Ricco ” René Leduc” :

I’ll post some photos
this evening.

Please do – I am looking forward to having my knowledge expanded!

Adrian

Two prototypes of the He 274 were builtduring the war by the “Ateliers
Aèronautiques de Suresnes”,part of the SNCASO, I think. After the liberation
these aircraft were finished and redesignated AAS 01. Originally intended as
high altitude bombers, driven by 4 DB603 engines and fitted with a
pressurized cabin, they were never used in te original role, but as carrier
aircraft for the SO.M1 and the Leduc 010 and 016. I’ll post some photos
this evening.

There were several other german a/c, that were built after the war by french
companies :
– AAC.1 Toucan : Ju 52
– SNCAC NC.900 : Fw 190A
– Morane Saulnier MS.500/501/502 : Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
– SNCAN N.1001 Pingouin : Bf 108
– SNCAN N.1101 Ramier/Noralpha : Me 208

built in just one example :
– SNCASE SE.3000 : Focke Achgelis FA.223
– Blohm & Voss Bv 144

Captured aircraft, that were operationally used by the AdlA and the Aeronavale were :
– Ju 88
– Ju 188
– Do 24

And AFAIK the SNCASO SO.8000 Narval was directly based on a Focke Wulf
design. During the french occupation, the french aviation industry was
pressed into the german aircraft production, so it probably was easiest way,
to stay in the business after the war, when still no genuine french design was
ready for production.

The Heinkel 274 in the photo, if memory serves me, was a prototype and actually built at a french factory, and completed post-war.

That seems to make sense – if the factories were tooled up to make German aircraft (or at least to support this prototype) then why not use them.

Adrian

The Heinkel 274 in the photo, if memory serves me, was a prototype and actually built at a french factory, and completed post-war. It didn’t use the coupled-inline engines which were so problematic in the He-177, but single engines driving each propeller.

Cheers,
Richard

Quite a few German designs were built by the French during the war, sometimes with new French designations, but I am afraid that I don’t have any deeper insight into such matters as engine fits. One day I will find the time to gather and read a few more French aviation books!

That last shot of the four-engined He-177 development is amazing.

I was only a nipper when I had the book on German experimental types last (interesting things like the Dornier 317, Fw191, that sort of thing), but I seem to recall that the He177 derivative was the Heinkel He274.

Presumably it was a whole lot less trouble than its parent for the French to use it as a testbed?

Actually, given that the French also flew a Do335 for a while, they seem to have been rather keen on picking up interesting kit the Germans left behind. I realise that they were German territory for most of the war, but it seems odd that they weren’t able to use US or British aircraft and instead played with the German’s toys. Or is that just me?

Adrian

Many thanks, Papa Lima, this is a photo, I didn’t know before.
And an interesting question, if the SO.30 used the same cowlings
and props, or even the nacelles of the Marauderm, as the main gear
seems to be very similar, too .Reverse engineering ?
I’ve superimposed side- and upper side views of both nacelles and
now I think, it’s just a similarity. The Marauder cowling better fits
the line of the nacelle and size, or position of scoops are determined
by the engine, a R-2800 in both cases.

Pardon my ignorance of esoteric French types, but does the SO.30P Bretagne (F-WAYK) have B-26 Marauder QEC’s? Or is the cowl and prop hub just very visually similar? And the French did operate the type…

That last shot of the four-engined He-177 development is amazing.

Very nice pics!

greg v.

S.O. M1

I have a photo here of the M1 from a different angle, and on the original I can see what appears to be a narrow skid at the centrr of the belly – it may not show up in the lower resolution photo that the Forum can accept.
The source is the book “French Skies” by Jacques Notinger.

Yes, very interesting photos . I’ve one question regarding the SO.M1 :
Is there anybody, who has a photo of this glider on the ground, without
a carrier aircraft ? It probably had some kind of a skid, but I’m still looking
for a photographic evidence.

Yes Papa, there are all manufacturers photos. They are all I have unless more come to light in the many prints and negatives as of yet I have not examined.

I think next I will post some DH multi-engine aircraft, mainly bi-planes.

Glyn

Great set of photos, are they all manufacturers’ pix?
Would love to see the tubby little Gerfaut (SFECMAS) and the really cool Trident (SO 9000).