SNCASO SO.4000 French Bomber Prototype

The experimental SNCASO SO.4000 registration F-WBBL made its first and only flight on 15 March 1951. As the first French jet bomber, it was part of a program by the French government to rebuild the French aviation industry to rebuild after World War Two. However, the SNCASO SO.4000 proved to be over weight and under-powered, which combined with damaged sustained during a heavy landing on its first flight resulted in its cancellation. At the time aviation technology was advancing quickly and the SNCASO SO.4000 had become outdated. Experience on this project led to the far more successful SO.4050 Vautour.