SNCASO SO.8000 Narval

The SNCASO SO.8000 Narval (English: Narwhal) was a French naval fighter aircraft designed by Sud-Ouest in the late 1940s. Only two prototypes were constructed, and the type did not enter production.

SO.8000 Narval
Role Carrier-based fighter and strike aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer Sud-Ouest
First flight 1 April 1949
Number built 2

Design and development

The Narval was a twin-boom pusher configuration design powered by an Arsenal 12H (a copy of the Jumo 213) driving a contra-rotating propeller[1] Two prototypes were constructed, the first being flown for the first time on 1 April 1949.[2] Development was abandoned at the beginning of 1950 since the design was already obsolescent.[3]

Specifications

Data from AviaFrance.com

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 11.83 m (40 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 11.77 m (38 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 26.5 m2 (285 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 7,000 kg (15,430 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Arsenal 12HO2 V-12 piston engine, 1,680 kW (2,250 hp)
  • Propellers: Chauviére

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 730 km/h (450 mph, 390 kn) at 8000m

Armament

Data from OldMachinePress.com

The SO.8000 Narval was to be equipped with:

  • Guns: Six German MG 151 20 mm cannons.
  • External: Under wing hard points that could accommodate 2,205 lb (1,000 kg) of ordnance. However, it is unlikely that the prototypes were ever armed.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

  • Mitsubishi J4M, Japanese fighter of similar layout, never materialized
  • Bell XP-52, US aircraft of similar layout, never materialized

Notes
  1. Salon Studies Flight 12 May 1949
  2. Pearce, William. "Sud-Ouest (SNCASO) SO.8000 Narval". oldmachinepress.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  3. S.N.C.A.S.O. SO-8000 'Narval' Aviafrance.com, retrieved 24 June 2014.
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