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Sud-Ouest SO 8000 Narval


Carrier-based Strike Fighter Prototype Aircraft


France | 1949



"Two prototypes of the SNCASO SO.8000 Narval were completed and flown - the company hoping to sell the design to the French Navy."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Sud-Ouest SO 8000 (Second Prototype) Carrier-based Strike Fighter Prototype Aircraft.
1 x Arsenal 12HO2 V-12 inline piston engine developing 2,250 horsepower and driving two three-bladed propellers in contra-rotating fashion in pusher configuration.
Propulsion
454 mph
730 kph | 394 kts
Max Speed
40,026 ft
12,200 m | 8 miles
Service Ceiling
2,796 miles
4,500 km | 2,430 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Sud-Ouest SO 8000 (Second Prototype) Carrier-based Strike Fighter Prototype Aircraft.
1
(MANNED)
Crew
38.9 ft
11.85 m
O/A Length
38.5 ft
(11.75 m)
O/A Width
10.5 ft
(3.20 m)
O/A Height
10,637 lb
(4,825 kg)
Empty Weight
15,432 lb
(7,000 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Sud-Ouest SO 8000 Narval Carrier-based Strike Fighter Prototype Aircraft .
None Fitted. Assumed multi-cannon armament in nose as well as multiple hardpoints for ordnance-carrying.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Sud-Ouest SO 8000 Narval family line.
SO.8000 "Narval" - Base Series Designation
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/07/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The post-World War 2 rebuilding period saw considerable growth for the French aero-industry that was one again able to operate freely. SNCASO of France, born from the mergers of Bleriot, Bloch, Sud-Ouest and others, eventually interested the French Navy in a new fighter design for carrier-based operations - the SO.8000 "Narval". The aircraft was first-flown in prototype form on April 1st, 1949 and two examples were completed during the program's run.

The Narval was given a twin-boom configuration with the cockpit, engine and armament all set within a well-streamlined fuselage nacelle. Views from the cockpit were excellent thanks to the high positioning of the seat and low-cut canopy base. At the rear of the fuselage were a pair of three-bladed propellers arranged in a "pusher" configuration - that is pushing the aircraft as opposed to pulling it. The blades (contra-rotating) spun within the area created by the twin booms and these booms were formed from the wing mainplane trailing edges, affixed to vertical planes at the tail. The rudders were joined by way of a single horizontal plane mounted high to help clear the prop wash. The mainplanes featured sweep along their leading and trailing edges, giving the Narval a rather futuristic look for a prop-driven design. A tricycle undercarriage, wheeled and retractable, was used for ground-running.

Power was from an Arsenal 12HO2 V-12 inline piston engine developing 2,250 horsepower. This engine was a French copy of the German wartime Junkers Jumo 213 series - the same engine powering designs such as the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter and Junkers Ju 188 fast reconnaissance platform. The aircraft was capable of speeds reaching 455 miles per hour with a range estimated out to 2,800 miles.

Dimensions included a wingspan of 38.6 feet, a length of 38.9 feet and a height of 10.5 feet. Gross weight was 15,432lb.

As stated, two prototypes were completed but it was the second example that flew first (this in April of 1949) with the first example not flying until December of 1949. Control was deemed rather poor by test pilots which led to some slight design changes. Despite this, the jet age was here to stay and the Narval continued to underperform to the point that it was written off as an active program. Over forty flights were had between the two prototypes.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Sud-Ouest SO 8000 Narval. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 2 Units

Contractor(s): Sud-Ouest / SNCASO - France
National flag of France

[ France (cancelled) ]
1 / 1
Image of the Sud-Ouest SO 8000 Narval
Image from the Public Domain.

Going Further...
The Sud-Ouest SO 8000 Narval Carrier-based Strike Fighter Prototype Aircraft appears in the following collections:
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