SNCAO 30

SNCAO 30
Wind-tunnel model of the SNCAO 30
Role	Training flying-boat
National origin	France
Manufacturer	SNCAO
First flight	13 September 1938
Status	Prototype only
Number built	2

The SNCAO 30 was a French single-engined monoplane flying boat two-seat trainer. Although it was ordered into production for the French Navy, only two prototypes were built.

Development and design

In the late 1930s Loire-Nieuport commenced development of the Loire-Nieuport LN-30 as a private venture to meet a requirement of the French Navy for a two-seat flying boat trainer. The resultant design, which was renamed SNCAO 30 when Loire-Nieuport was nationalised and became part of Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques de l'ouest (SNCAO), was a single-engined pusher monoplane of wooden construction, with the crew of two sitting side-by side in an open cockpit. Its wing was carried on struts above the fuselage, with the Salmson 9ABa radial engine mounted above the wing.^[1]

The first prototype, built at the SNCAO factory at Saint Nazaire, made its maiden flight on 13 September 1938, these resulting in a number of modifications, including adding dihedral to the outer wing panels, placing a cowling around the engine and replacing its twin tail with a single large fin, the prototype flying again in this form on 21 September 1938, with a second prototype flying on 19 May 1939.^[2] The aircraft was disappointing, however, being nose-heavy and with its engine suffering from severe vibration and overheating.^[3]

Despite these problems, as there was no better alternative,^[3] an order for production of 12 aircraft, designated SNCAO 300, was placed on 19 March 1940. Production was ended by the Nazi German invasion of France, with no production aircraft being completed.^[4]

Specifications

Data from War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Five Flying Boats ^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 9.2012 m (30 ft 2.25 in)
• Wingspan: 13 m (42 ft)
• Height: 3.208 m (10 ft 6.3 in)
• Wing area: 26.50 m² (285.2 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,375 kg (3,031 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,790 kg (3,946 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Salmson 9ABa none-cylinder radial engine, 210 kW (280 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 192 km/h; 103 kn (119 mph) at sea level
• Stall speed: 101 km/h; 55 kn (63 mph)
• Endurance: 4 hr
• Service ceiling: 3,999 m (13,120 ft)
• Time to altitude: 22 min to 3,000 m (9,840 ft)

See also

Related development

• List of seaplanes and flying boats

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Loire 130

Notes

1. Green 1968, p.20.
2. Green 1968, pp. 20–21.
3. "SNCAO 300". Gevechtsvliegtuigen, (In Dutch) Retrieved 16 January 2010.
4. Green 1968, p.21.

References

• Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Five Flying Boats. London:Macdonald, 1968. ISBN 0-356-01449-5.

External links

• Aviafrance (in French)
• УГОЛОК НЕБА (in Russian)