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SNCAO 200

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Top speed
  
550 km/h

Length
  
8.9 m

Manufacturer
  
Wingspan
  
9.5 m

First flight
  
January 31, 1939

SNCAO 200 wwwairwarruimageidopfww2cao200cao2001jpg

The SNCAO 200 (sometimes written CAO.200) was a prototype French single seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s. It was a single engined monoplane intended to compete with the Dewoitine D.520, but was unsuccessful, only a single example being built.

Contents

SNCAO 200 SNCAO CAO200

Design and development

SNCAO 200 SNCAO 200 FGMmasterDujin 3 2012

In 1937, the French Air Ministry issued an official specification for a single-engined fighter to follow-on from and replace the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406. The new fighter was to be powered by a single Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51, rated at 1,100 hp (821 kW). Designs to meet this specification were produced by Dewoitine (the Dewoitine D.520), Morane-Saulnier (the Morane-Saulnier M.S.450), the Arsenal de l'Aéronautique (the VG-33) and SNCAO.

SNCAO 200 Airplanes in the skies FAF history SNCAO 200

SNACO, formed in 1936 when the factories of Loire-Nieuport and Breguet were nationalised, based its design on the Loire-Nieuport 161 fighter design which had been rejected in favour of the M.S.406. The new fighter, the SNCAO 200 was a low-winged monoplane of all-metal construction, with stressed-skin wings, a forward fuselage of steel tubes covered in duralumin skinning, and a duralumin monocoque rear fuselage. It was fitted with leading edge slats, which were linked to trailing edge flaps.

SNCAO 200 SNCAO CAO200

A mock-up of the SNCAO was exhibited at the 1938 Paris Air Show. When the prototype was completed in January 1939, the planned Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 engine was not yet available, and it was fitted with an 860 hp (640 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 engine to make its first flight on 31 January 1939. With this engine, the SNCAO was underpowered, and by the time the prototype was passed to the authorities for official testing in August 1939, the Dewoitine D.520 had already been ordered into large-scale production. Despite this, several sources claim that a batch of 12 aircraft to be powered by 12Y-51 engines were ordered.

Operational history

SNCAO 200 SNCAO CAO200 Other

During the Battle of France, the prototype SNCAO 200 may have been used to defend the SNCAO factory at Villacoublay, and may even have shot down an attacking Heinkel He 111 bomber. The prototype was taken to Germany for evaluation following the 22 June Armistice between France and Germany.

Specifications

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters

General characteristics

SNCAO 200 The SNCAO 200 sometimes written CAO200 was a prototype French

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 8.90 m (29 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 13.30 m2 (143.2 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 2,500 kg (5,512 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 640 kW (860 hp)
  • Performance

    SNCAO 200 SNCAO 200 C1

  • Maximum speed: 550 km/h (342 mph; 297 kn) at 6,000 m (19,700 ft
  • Endurance: 2 hours
  • Service ceiling: 4,480 m (14,700 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 2 min 27 sec to 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
  • Armament

    SNCAO 200 Airplanes in the skies FAF history SNCAO 200

  • Guns: 1× 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon firing through propeller hub, 2× 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns in wings
  • References

    SNCAO 200 Wikipedia


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