| 0.10 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leduc 0.16 preserved at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget | |
| Role | Research aircraft |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Breguet Aviation |
| Designer | René Leduc |
| First flight | 21 October 1947 |
| Number built | 3 |
The Leduc 0.10 was a research aircraft built in France, one of the world's first aircraft to fly powered solely by a ramjet.[1]
Design and development[]
Designed by René Leduc in 1938, it was built at the Breguet Aviation factory after a protracted, semi-secret construction phase kept at arm's length from German occupation authorities, and was finally completed in 1947. The aircraft featured a double-walled fuselage, with the pilot controlling the aircraft from within the inner shell. The circular gap between this and the outer, cylindrical shell provided the inlet for the ramjet.[1]
Testing[]
It could not take off unassisted (ramjets cannot produce thrust at zero airspeed and thus cannot move an aircraft from a standstill) and was therefore intended to be carried aloft by a Sud-Est Languedoc mothership and released at altitude. Following test flights of the Languedoc/0.10 composite, independent unpowered gliding tests began in October 1947. After three such flights, the first powered flight was made on 21 April 1949 over Toulouse. Released in a shallow dive at an altitude of 3,050 m (10,010 ft), the engine was tested at half power for twelve minutes, propelling the aircraft to 680 km/h (420 mph).[1]
In subsequent tests, the 0.10 reached a top speed of Mach 0.85 and demonstrated the viability of the ramjet as an aviation powerplant, with a rate of climb of 40 m/s (7,900 ft/min) to 11,000 metres (36,000 ft), exceeding that of the best jet fighters of the time.[1]
Of the two 0.10s originally built, one was destroyed in a crash in 1951 and the other severely damaged in another crash the following year. Both pilots survived with serious injuries.
0.11[]
In addition to these, a third aircraft was built, designated 0.11. Generally similar to the 0.10, it featured a Turbomeca Marbore I turbojet on each wingtip, to provide better control during landings. This first flew on 8 February 1951, but was converted back to 0.10 standards a few months later after problems occurred, including misting of the pilot's windows, powerplant synchronization, and wing deflection caused by the turbojets.[1] The engines were replaced by inert mass balances, and this aircraft was preserved at Le Bourget.
Subsequent prototypes[]
The larger Leduc 0.21 flew from an air launch on 16 May 1953, and the swept wing supersonic Leduc 0.22 interceptor began testing on 26 December 1956 with a SNECMA Atar turbojet before the program was terminated in 1958.[1]
Specifications (0.10)[]
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 10.25 m (33 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 10.52 m (34 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 16.0 m2 (172 ft2)
- Empty weight: 1,700 kg (3,740 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,800 kg (6,173 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Leduc ramjet, 15.7 kN (3,520 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 800 km/h (500 mph)
See also[]
- Leduc 0.21
- Leduc 0.22
- Miles M.52
Notes[]
References[]
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. File 900 Sheet 04–05.
External links[]
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