- Yes
- No
The Dassault Flamant (meaning Flamingo) was primarily a twin engined transport plane built by Dassault aviation. It was modified for ground attack, especially by France. 325 were built.
Background:
A year after the war, in response to a government request for an aircraft capable of liaison duties, chief engineer Marcel Dassault initiated a design of a prototype in 1946. This was a development of an earlier design known as the BA-30 during WWII. It was re-evaluated and Marcel proposed some changes. The stabilizers were lifted and the nose was extended in order to accomodate the front wheel. The designation was then changed to MB-30 Three variants were proposed: MB 30-1 (bomber and navigation trainer), the MB 30-2 (Medical and international operations) and the MB 30-3 (liaison and training roles). On 26 February 1947, the built prototype, designated the MD 303, took off being powered by two Bearn 6D engines. All production variants however, would be powered by Renault (later SNECMA) 12S piston engines, which was the French designation for the Argus As 411. They were produced at a new Dassault plant in Bordeaux. The MD 315 (137 built) colonial communication variant first took flight on 6 July 1947, the MD 312 (118 built) transport variant on 27 April 1950 and the MD 311(41 built) navigation and attacker variant on 23 March 1948.
Operations:
The French Air Force received its first Flamant in 1949 and by 1953, all Flamants were delivered. The MD 311 especially, saw combat in the Algerian War of independence, by using SS.11/AS.11 (AGM variant) anti tank missiles and bombs, rockets and guns. The Flamant was the first ever plane to use wire guided anti tank missiles in combat testing by a soecial unit of the air force, known as the GOM.86. The SS.11 attacks were deemed successful, which gave the French army an incentive to test anti tank missiles on attack helicopters for the very first time. The final Flamant was withdrawn from service in 1981. Apart from France, other former colonies such as Cambodia, Cameroon, Madagascar, Niger, South Vietnam and Tunisia also operated the Flamant.
The MD 311 variant carrying AS.11 AGMs.
Specifications:
Crew: 2
Capacity: 10 passengers
Length: 12.50 m (41 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 20.70 m (67 ft 11 in)
Height: 4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 47.2 m2 (508 sq ft)
Empty weight: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
Gross weight: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × SNECMA/Renault 12S 02-201 air-cooled inverted V12 engines, 430 kW (580 hp) each
Performance:
Maximum speed: 380 km/h (240 mph, 210 kn)
Cruise speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn)
Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 5.00 m/s (985 ft/min)
Takeoff distance to 15 m (50 ft): 460 m (1,510 ft)
Armament:
Guns: 2 × .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns
Hardpoints: 4
Rockets: 4 x 105 mm rockets or 4 x Matra launchers (7 x 68 mm rockets each)
AS.11 AGMs Anti Tanks (Used by the MD 311)
Bombs: 4 x 110Ibs
Sources: