Leduc 0.22
| 0.22 | |
|---|---|
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| Leduc 0.22 preserved in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget | |
| Role | Research aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Breguet |
| Designer | René Leduc |
| First flight | 26 December 1956 |
| Number built | 1 |
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The Leduc 0.22 was the prototype of a Mach 2 fighter built in France in 1956.
Design
It was the first attempt at a practical application of the ramjet technology that had been developed in the 0.10 and 0.21 research aircraft over the previous years. Unlike all previous Leduc aircraft, it featured swept wings and a coaxial turbojet-ramjet powerplant to enable unassisted operation.
Test flights
First flown on 26 December 1956 on turbojet power alone, the ramjet was finally fired on the 34th flight, on 18 May 1957. Another 80 flights took place before the cancellation of the project in favour of the more conventional Dassault Mirage III. A second prototype was under construction at the time.
End of operations
Although intended to be a supersonic fighter, the 0.22 proved unable to exceed the speed of sound (Mach 1) because of the prohibitive drag induced by its non-area-ruled fuselage at near-sonic speeds. The cancellation of the project marked the end of René Leduc's aircraft development activities.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Length: 18.21 m (59 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 9.95 m (32 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 22.1 m2 (238 ft2)
- Empty weight: 6,380 kg (14,040 lb)
- Gross weight: 8,995 kg (19,789 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Leduc ramjet, 63.7 kN (14,300 lbf) thrust
- 1 × SNECMA Atar 101D-3, 31.4 kN (7,040 lbf) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,200 km/h (750 mph)
References
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 750.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 900 Sheet 05.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leduc 022. |
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