Post by flyboy on Jun 17, 2018 21:13:58 GMT
The SO-30P Bretagne.
The early days of the SO-30P proved difficult. Having been designed as a 23 seat passenger, twin engined transport aircraft during the early 1940's, the first prototype aircraft known as the Ballatrix, completed in November 1942, was not permitted to test fly due to the invasion of France by the Germans. Concerned that the invading force would discover and use the aircraft design for their own purposes the manufacturer took the completed aircraft apart and distributed the pieces in farm out buildings and barns around the town of Draguignan, in the Cote d'Azur region in southeastern France. It remained in secret storage until France was liberated and it was safe to return the sections back to the factory for reassembly.
Registered F-BALY the aircraft flew for the first time on February 26th 1945.
There followed many changes before the first production prototype, powered by two 1620hp Pratt and Whitney R-2800-B43 engines the SO-30P Bretagne first flew on December 11th 1947.
As the 10th production aircraft F-WAYL was rolled off the production line new 1800hp engines had been fitted and this was increased to 2435hp with water injection. Better performance permitted a change of internal layout to accommodate up to 37 passengers.
Another modification was made to the 12th aircraft F-WAYO which was converted to an all cargo SO-30C with under fuselage loading doors and first flew on January 6th 1950.
The 29th aircraft was modified as the personal transport for the then President of France. This aircraft visited Blackbushe during Farnborough Air Show week in 1955 and again in 1957 but there is no record of who was aboard.
There were a total of 45 SO-30P's built with a number being operated by French forces and civil airlines including Air Algerie, Air Atlas-Air Maroc and Aigle Azur.
A further two aircraft were modified as test beds for jet engines, Rolls Royce Nene turbojets on one and SNECMA Atar 101's to the second prototype F-WAYD.
Specification: SO-30P:
Crew 2
Passengers 30-43
Propulsion 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA-18 Double Wasp radials.
Engine Power 1566kw (2100hp) each.
Speed 576km/h (311kts, 358mph)
Service Ceiling 6,500m (21,325ft).
Range 1330km (718nm,826mi)
Max TO Weight 20,250kg (44,644lb)
Wing Span 26.90m (66ft 3in).
Wing Area 86.2sq m(928sq ft).
Length 18.95m (62ft 2in)
Height 5.90m (19ft 4in).
General Information:
First Flight February 26th 1945.
Total Produced 45.
Variants:
--..-- SO-30N Bellatrix
--..-- SO-30R Bellatrix
--..-- SO-30P-1
--..-- SO-30-P-2 Bretagne.
--..-- SO-30C Cargo.
Known Visitors:
Reg Type c/n Operator Information Dates Noted .
18 SO-30P 18 French Air Force ET60 Sqn 3.9.57-5.9.57,1.9.58-5.9.58,9.9.59.
19 --..-- 19 --..-- --..-- 2.9.56-4.9.56.
28 --..-- 28 --..-- 4.9.57.
29 --..-- 29 --..-- 6.9.55-7.9.55,3.9.57.
30 --..-- 30 --..-- 6.9.55-7.9.55,3.9.58.
32 --..-- 32 --..-- 31.S.8 3.9.56-4.9.56.
33 --..-- 33 --..-- 1.9.58,3.9.58.
36 --..-- 36 --..-- 31.S.1 4.9.57.
F-ZABZ --..-- 37} Sud Ouest {8.9.53>
37 --..-- 37} French Air Force {7.9.54,8.9.55>
37 --..-- 37} --..-- ET60 Sqn {2.9.58,8.9.59,10.9.59.
40 --..-- 40 French Navy 31.S.2 6.9.55-7.9.55.
44 --..-- 44 ] French Air Force [7.9.54-8.9.54,3.9.56-5.9.56.>
44 --..-- 44 ] --..-- (Y) F-ZARY ET60 Sqn [9.9.59,11.9.55.
45 --..-- 45 French Navy 31.S.6 F-YEBF 3.9.57.
F-WAYI --..-- 7 Sud Ouest 6.9.50
Credits:
Wikipedia
All-Aero
Flugzeug Info
rj for access to his records
Enthusiasts logs via rj
PB for the photos
Complete JSM 19.6.2018.