- Yes
- No
Introduction: The French aviation industry has always been at the forefront of technology, leading the way throughout the 1920’s and 30’s. French engineers always put forward unique and interesting designs that would give their industry a unique flair amongst the aviation world. Although this would be put to a temporary end during the Second World War, work continued in Occupied France in secret, and soon after Liberation, the French aviation industry would return with even more energy and fervour than that of the 1930’s. New technologies and construction methods had come about, and French engineers were soon working on highly ambitious projects mere weeks after the end of the War. However, late 1940’s France was still recovering from the horrors of the Second World War, and issues with finances and industrial output meant that for the time being, French engineers were going beyond their physical limits. This claimed a large number of projects, including France’s first attempts at building a jet bomber.
Background: In September 1945, all remaining piston-engine bomber programs were cancelled, and on the 4th of that month, the a new requirement was issued, which called for a 28 ton jet bomber powered by two Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines, with a payload of 5 tons and a speed of 900km/h (559mph). In March 1946, the contract was awarded to SNCAC (Centre) and SNCASO (Sud-Ouest), becoming the NC.270 and So.4000 respectively. On the 23rd of May, 1946, Centre received their order to proceed with the construction of their design, to supply parts for another and to build 1:2.5 scale models, which would be designated NC.271. Maxime Robin, the designer of the aircraft, created a streamlined machine with simple, yet elegant lines. The cockpit buried into the nose of the aircraft and was capable of being jettisoned in the event of an emergency. The engines were attached to the fuselage in large nacelles, with the wings being mounted on top of them. The NC.270 was given a tricycle landing gear, with twin wheels in all positions, with the forward leg retracting into the fuselage behind the nose section, whilst the other two retracted into their respective engine nacelles. The upper half of the fuselage contained fuel tanks, whilst the lower portion contained the bomb bay. On the initial design (NC.270 Stage 1) possessed a cruciform tail and smaller wings than the final product (Stage 2), which had a T-tail and a larger wing, as there were concerns about excessive wing loading. In the tail was placed a remotely-operated turret with an armament of four 15mm machine guns, which was tested on the prototype whilst it was under construction, but was not going to be fitted for its first flight, likely to save weight.
There were also unanswered questions about how the guns were going to be aimed, whether by means of radar or television. Indeed, it soon became apparent that there would be a multitude of issues with the aircraft. To begin with, SNCAC’s calculations regarding the aircraft’s weight and performance were overly optimistic. There were also concerns regarding the visibility from the cockpit, as its position gave limited forward vision for the pilots, and it would have required major work for it to become viable. When these problems began becoming apparent, the Arme ́e de l’Air mulled over the project, before cancelling the NC.270 in February 1947. The So.4000 would fly, but it too would be cancelled. The first French jet bomber program was just too advanced and too expensive for the resources available at that time, as indicated by the following quote from the French Air Force: “[the] Bombers must not be pursued with, not because the General Headquarters no longer believe in the importance of a bomber force in combat, but because the means they require in equipment, personal [sic] and material are way over the present or future financial capabilities of this Country.”
Not all was lost however, the NC.271 scale models would eventually fly, with one being a glider with the configuration of the NC.270 Stage 1, with the other having the configuration of the Stage 2, as well as a rocket motor from the Me 163 Komet, to test the high-speed aspects of the NC.270. Most records state that only the first aircraft flew, but new research seems to have uncovered that both aircraft flew. Unfortunately, the failure of the NC.270 would eventually lead to the end of Centre. The company was overstretched, and the failure of a number of expensive programs forced the company into bankruptcy, and it was liquidated in October 1948, the factory being closed in 1949.
Performance:
Spoiler
| Status: | Prototype (incomplete) |
|---|---|
| Span: | 65ft 6.5in (20.00m) |
| Length: | 71ft 2in (21.70m) |
| Gross Wing Area: | 835.5sq ft (77.7sq m) |
| Gross Weight: | 55,115lb (25,000kg) |
| Powerplant: | Two Hispano-Suiza Nene (production license from Roll-Royce) rated at 5,000lb (22.2kN) |
| Maximum Speed/Altitude: | 539mph at 29,350ft (867km/h at 9,000) |
| Armament: | 11,023lb (5,000kg) of bombs |
| Four 15mm machine guns in a rear turret |
Conclusion: It can therefore be said that the NC.270 was a case of flying too close to the sun, with the program outstretching the capabilities of the company, as well as the country, that was building it. Whilst a highly advanced design on paper, it was simply too much for a country that was recovering from the world’s most devastating conflict. Despite this, France would recover and reach unprecedented heights in the aviation world, both in terms of success and creativity. The NC.270 was simply the wrong aircraft, for the wrong time.
Sources:
Spoiler
“French Secret Projects 2: Bombers, Patrol and Assault Aircraft” – Jean-Christophe Carbonel
SNCAC (Aérocentre) NC.270/271 | Secret Projects Forum
War Machines Drawn: Aérocentre SNCAC NC.270
SNCAC NC-270
Prototypes.com/Le Sud-Ouest SO-4000/II. Le NC-270 & le SO-4000
67 - Les projet secret de la SNCAC (première partie) - Le bloc-note de aerophile