SW - Leduc 022

The French aircraft designer René Leduc beginnt an experiments with ramjet engines since WW2 and after liberation of his land he started immediately to construct experimental ramjet airplane Leduc 010. The first flight of this type was realized in April 1949, its speed was about 800km/h. As it wasn't able to take off by its own power, it was taken of on the top on modified airliner SE.161 Languedoc. Next experimental types followed: 010-02, 016 in the year 1951 and 021 in 1953. In 1956 all experiences with these experimentals were used to design of interceptor plane Leduc 022. This one were equipped by coaxial turbojet-ramjet powerplant and unlike the all previous types was able to take off by itself. But the project was cancelled in favour of Dassault Mirage III. Although intended to be a supersonic fighter, the 022 proved unable to exceed the speed of sound (Mach 1) because of the prohibitive drag induced by its non-area-ruled fuselage at near-sonic speeds.