THE VAUTOUR'S SPECIFICATIONS - Page1

ON THIS PAGE :
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
ROLES
DIMENSIONS
STRUCTURE
OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS
CREW


General Characteristics

1. The Vautour was one of the most advanced European design of the time.

2. Features of advantage were:

a) The three subtypes, for three different roles, were built as almost similar structure (90% commonality). This enabled conversion and additional missions with minor changes. The result (IAF service) was a versatile, multi-purpose aircraft.
b) Payload weight equal to its own empty weight ( ca. 10,000 kg, empty, and a mix of fuel and armament of the same total weight).
c) As a bomber/strike aircraft the Vautour carried an outstanding load of bombs (up to 4,400 kgs.)
d) Long range (5,500 to 6,000 km. -for ferry, 3,000 + km. , operational ) and radius of action (800 - 2,000+ km. according to mission).
e) Although heavy (more than twice a contemporary fighter's weight), the Vautour was capable to compete with the transonic fighters of the time. It went supersonic in a shallow dive): max. level speed of 0.92-0.94 Mach, altitude of 50,000+ feet, an initial climb rate (clean) of 11,820 feet/min., time to 12,000 m. - 7 min. and fine maneuverability.
f) Except for the B variant, the Vautour had a high self-defence capability, equipped with a powerful 4-30mm guns battery, producing fire strength greater than most fighters or fighter-bombers (either for AA combat or for ground attack ) of that time.


3. Disadvantages

a) The most distinctive feature was being underpowered. It "deserved" engines of the 10,000 lbs. class. as proven in several, experimental, prototypes and pre-production machines.
b) The French (governmental) policy to use only local components, caused usage of items and spares that lacked in quality. (This limitation didn't exist in the privately-owned companies).
c) Although better than the WWII equipment - the fire control system, bombing sight and the search radar were still far behind the American operational instruments.
d) The Vautour was an aircraft for experienced pilots ! it was not easy to fly. The Vautour limitations set, for the first years in service, many challenges, and caused, unfortunately, losses of lives and aircraft.
e) The aircraft needed a lot of maintenance. Much work was necessary, after each sortie, in order to put it back to serviceability.
f) Its relative large dimensions made the Vautour easier to detect, and a bigger target for AA fire at low height attacks.


And see also the Comparison With Contemporaries page.



Roles

1) The versatility of the Vautour is demonstrated in this long list of roles the basic Vautour could fulfill, sometimes a number of roles simultaneousely.
2) The IAF utilized the Vautour, from 1964 onwards, as a multi-mission fighter-bomber, incorporating (IIBR) roles of long-range attack, leading and strategic recce, (IIN) strike, leading, photo and electronic recce.

    Armee de L'Air
  • IIB - Bomber (conventional and nuclear capability)
  • IIBR - Photo-Reconnaissance; retained bombing capability
  • IIBGE - ECM warfare; retained bombing capability
  • IIA(R) - Refuelling Tanker, experimental
  • IIB-TT - Target Tug
  • IIN - All Weather Interceptor, with guns and AAMs
  • IINR - Photo-Reconnaissance
  • IIN (NBC) - Nuclear atmospheric / environmental research
  • All variants - Test-Bed for various arms, equipment, engines and other installations




Dimensions

The three subtypes of the Vautour differed slightly in dimensions. The B and N variants were longer than the A, while the Monoblock tail variants ( B.1 and N.1 ) were a little shorter than their standard equivalents.

Details \ Subtype IIA IIB IIN B.1 / N.1
Span 15.10 15.10 15.10 15.10
Length (fuselage) 15.57 15.84 15.84 15.84
Length (gross) 17.36 17.55 17.55 17.124
Height 4.94 4.94 4.94 4.94
Wings Area (sq. m.) 45.0 45.0 45.0 45.0


* The dimensions given below, for the IAF IIA, are of [biaf] :



  • Length: 15.57 m.
  • Heigth: 4.77 m. {see table, - ?}
  • Wing span: 15.10 m.
  • Wing Area: 45.0 sq.m.
  • wings sweep: 35 deg. at 25% of chord.
  • Aspect Ratio: 5.06







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Structure

This section brings, for the tine being, very brief data.
1 - Pictures of the Vautour various parts appear in the
Vautour structure - gallery - {in construction}.
2 - Drawings of the Vautour are illustrated in
Vautours Drawings gallery.


* More data will be completed.

Landing Gear :
Structure: a bycicle arrangement with two twin-wheel units under the fuselage, in tandem, fore and aft of the weapon bay, and, for stability, two retractable outrigger units {"balancin"}, each carrying a single wheel.

Tail:
The production Vautours were of two tail subtypes:

* "Classique" ("horizontallly moving"):
- IIA - All 30, including the 17 for Israel.
- IIB - First 10.
- IIN - First 25, including the 7 for Israel.
* "Monoblock" ("all-flying")
- IIB, Designated as IIB.1 - 30 . (including 4 to Israel)
- IIN, Designated as IIN.1 - last 45.
*** The French later converted most of the rest ( B and N), in operational service, to Monoblock tails.

Other Features: [ To be completed ]

  • Max. "G" stress: 5.5
  • Low-Pressure tyres, suitable for bad runways.
  • Breaking parachute.



Operational Systems
  • Standard Communication and Navigation systems.
  • Radar:
    IIN :
    CSF-Thomson - in some of the prototypes
    DRAC-25A Search Radar - in first 45 IIN, including the 7 Israeli.
    Drac-32A Search Radar - the last 25 IIN.
  • Sights
    IIA/N guns: Ferranti Optical Sight.
    IIB bombing sight: Norden
  • Camerae {to be completed}
    Camerae installations in IAF Vautours, see [ Upgrades and Improvements ]



Crew

  • IIA: Single Seat, Pilot only
  • IIB: Two-Seater: Pilot in main cockpit, Navigator/Bomber in a glazed nose separate cell
  • IIN: Two-Seater: Pilot and Navigator in tandem, separate canopies.

Ejector Seats:
  • Originally - Sud Aviation
    * Type E-96 : IIA pilot, IIN crew, IIB pilot;
    * Type E-97 : IIB bomber/aimer.
    Both of minimal ejection height - 2,000' (610 m.)
    - Replaced by Marcel Dassault type E-101 (in French AF ) minimal ejection height: 800' (244 m.)
    - - {One or more of the Israeli Vautour A was fitted with a Martin-Baker zero-zero (?) ejection seat}

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update: May 2002