| SO.9000/SO.9050 Trident | |
|---|---|
| Role | Research interceptor aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | SNCASO |
| First flight | 2 March 1953 |
| Number built | 12 |
The SNCASO SO.9000 Trident was a mixed power French prototype interceptor aircraft of the 1950s. Capable of supersonic flight the project was cancelled in July 1957 after only 12 examples had been built.
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The French Air Staff tasked SNCASO to develop a point defence interceptor, studies began in October 1948.[1] The aircraft that emerged was a shoulder wing monoplane, to be primarily powered by a SEPR rocket engine and augmented with wing-tip mounted turbojets. First flown on 2 March 1953 by test pilot Jacques Guignard the aircraft used the entire length of the runway to get airborne powered only by its turbojets.[1] From March 1955 the Trident I flew with new turbojets, the more powerful Dassault-built MD 30 Viper ASV.5, which produced 7.34 kN (1,654 lbf) thrust each. With these engines it soon exceeded Mach 1 in a shallow dive without rocket power.[2]
Test flights of the SO.9000 were described by the author Bill Gunston as 'hairy' until the rocket motor was added in September 1954. During the 18-month test programme the aircraft completed over 100 flights, eventually reaching a speed of Mach 1.8 and an altitude of 20,000 metres (65,000 ft).[1]
A Trident II was lost due to an accident on 21 May 1957 [3]
The project was cancelled in July 1957; the decision was influenced by the manned fighter cuts announced by the British Defence Minister, Duncan Sandys.[1]
Two aircraft built. The first aircraft was built at Istres and was completed in late-1952, the second aircraft 02 crashed on its first flight in September 1953. Three-chamber SEPR 481 rocket engine, each chamber producing 2,755 lbf (12,250 N) thrust.
Ten pre-production aircraft ordered in 1953. Higher power Turbomeca Gabizo turbojets (2,645 lbf (11.77 kN) thrust) with two-chamber SEPR 631 rocket engine (each chamber now being individually ignited for finer thrust control). First flight 21 December 1955.
The preserved SO.9000-01 Trident has been on public display since 1956 at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, near Paris.
Data from Gunston[4]
General characteristics
Performance
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