SW - Sud Ouest SO-4000 Vautour I

In the late 40's, France's aviation industry was in dire straits, having been damaged more heavily than any other Allied nation as a consequence of the Second World War. Regardless, the French needed to revive the nation's aviation industry, and to use the latest advances for a new generation of competitive locally-built aircraft. The French Air Force produced a requirement for a jet bomber which was expected to have a takeoff weight of roughly 25–30 tons and be capable of transonic speeds.
Submissions were tendered by several French aircraft manufacturers, including SNCASO air company. During 1947, as a result of the rapid advances made in aviation technologies made around this time, plans for a subsequent production run of their new designed plane were abandoned, nevertheless, it was decided to complete the two scale models and the full size prototype for experimental purposes. On 5 March 1950, the prototype was rolled out (after tests with the two models). During the following month, the aircraft sustained damage when its undercarriage collapsed during taxiing tests. After completing repairs, it performed its maiden flight on 15 March 1951. During landing, its undercarriage failed again, resulting in damage. The aircraft would never fly again and work on the project was abandoned without any further testing being carried out. The name Vautour was later given to the more succsessful type SO 4050 (Vautour II).