Aérospatiale (Sud-Aviation) AS.250 "Typhon"

[Slerski]

Everybody knows the Concorde, supersonic airliner, but which knows the Typhoon, the four-engined derivated bomber ?

This fabulous aircraft will be the subject of my first chronicle for the "What-if Post".

[Slerski]

The influence of the Concorde

At the end of 1950s, several British, French, American and Soviet aircraft companies want to build the first supersonic airliner.

Financed by their respective governments, French Sud-Aviation and British Bristol Aeroplane Company develop respectively their supersonics Super-Caravelle and Bristol 233. In the face of colossal development costs, governments decide to make both companies collaborate, creating the Concorde. British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) and Sud-Aviation shared the costs of the device, whereas Bristol Aero Engines (acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1966) and SNECMA developed a jet engine derived of Bristol Olympus 593.

Concorde made its first flight over Toulouse on March 2nd, 1969. This flight lasted 29 minutes. The first supersonic passage was made on October 1st of the same year, Mach 2 being reached on one year later. The in-flight trial program taking place without incidents, the first development aircraft, called 001, began the demonstrations for the public on September 4th, 1971.

In 1970, the idea of a military development of the Concorde makes its appearance. Impressed by the performances of the aircraft, the French and British governments ask to both respective manufacturers for the study of an all-weather supersonic bomber, capable of high speed and altitude nuclear penetration. However divergences on loads, as well as on weapons system, urged little by little each of the nations to develop her own project. This difference of point of view gave birth to the BAC Vengeance, nicknamed "Bombcord" and to the Aérospatiale AS.250.

[thedarkmaster]

Always love a Concorde bomber     


Here's mine

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,21290.0.html

[Slerski]

I've seen your model (looks really great - love the white anti-flash painting  ). However all the Bombcord whifs I've seen are under RAF colors. Now, French Air Force have Bombcord too 

[Mossie]

Be good to see a Bombcorde in French colours for change, looking forward to it!

[kitnut617]

Yes this will be interesting to watch, Slerski - An interesting fact I found out from someone who work on Concorde equipment (noted author Phil Butler no less), was that it was being built to CAS certificate. This is a catagory that would have allowed the Concorde to go either to the military or to the civil use.


I've got a project going too:

[Slerski]

(Second part... Sorry for my poor English.)

Conception and Development

AS.250 is very similar to the Concorde, sharing with him the main fuselage body and the wings. However, aft fuselage was redrawn to receive the SYCOMA (SYstème de COntre-Mesures Actives - Active Countermeasures System). The central part of the fuselage was modified to welcome a bomb bay, capable of taking 7500 kg of various armaments. The foward fuselage was redesigned, in order to accommodate a bombing radar under the cockpit and the new ARIANE ground-following radar.

Wings were strengthened, receiving two hardpoints in the implanture of the wing and the two in extremity of wing. The fuel circuit was rethought, allowing the carrying of two pendular tanks, which increase range of the aircraft but reduce his maximal speed. The vertical stabiliser is enlarged, allowing the addition of a Radar Warning Receiver.

Olympus jet engines are replaced by Atar 12K jet engines, based mainly on a design tried aboard the Mirage III and IV. It is simply enlarged Atar 9C engines, developing 100kN dry and 123kN with afterburner. The equipped aircraft makes its first flight on July 23rd, 1971 and in spite of a light deficit of power, the Armée de l'Air places an order of 10 AS.250 in operationnal standards (installation of the electronics, the bombs bay and complete anti-flash painting).

[sideshowbob9]

Nice backstory and profiles! 

If I may ask, what prompted the changeover to Atar 12Ks? Cost?

[Slerski]

Cost (design based on an existing jet-engine), mechanic's technical skills (no formation required) and necessity of a french jet-engine 

[Slerski]

Typhons' fabrication

In september 1971, French governement placed an order for 30 Typhons, with the following building program : 2 planes for 1973 FY, 14 planes for 1974 FY and 16 planes in 1975. An option was taken for 6 other aircraft, programmed for 1976 FY.

With these orders, Sud-Aviation was responsible for a great project with the following partners :
- Sud-Aviation (later Aérospatiale) for the construction of the aft fuselage, wings, the engine cradles in Toulouse and the foward fuselage in Rochefort;
- Sagem and Thomson-CSF, for all the electronic systems;
- Messier, for the landing gear;
- Snecma and Turboméca, for Atar 12K engines.

Typhons' final assembly took place in Toulouse-Blagnac. On this site, aircraft were ground-tested then in-flight tested, followed by deliveries to the operational units.

[sideshowbob9]

and necessity of a french jet-engine 

Oh you meanie! 

I suppose it is a nuclear deterrent though, strategic sovereignty and all that.

Would love to know if they were ever deployed to Chad or French Guiana and if they had any deployment camo while there? They would also look good in some of the wonderful anniversary schemes the AdlA has done over the years!

[Slerski]

I've made some desert scheme but... I'll think about anniversary scheme (I'll do these with white sheet of paper and my nephew's drawing kit  )

[sideshowbob9]

Cool! 

[thedarkmaster]

Like the idea mate, can't wait to see them