Aérospatiale Ludion
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | France |
The Sud Aviation/Aérospatiale SA-610 Ludion (Ludion meaning Cadet) represents a small, innovative VTOL vehicle that was presented at the 1967 Paris Air Show. Its design included a pilot’s seat accompanied by two downward-facing augmented rocket engines located behind it, with thrust vectoring used for control. Engineered to accommodate a pilot along with 30 kg (66 lb) of gear, it was capable of ascending to heights near 200 m (600 ft) and traveling distances up to 700 m (2,300 ft).
The propulsion system utilized a monofuel decomposition chamber powered by pressurized isopropyl nitrate (AVPIN), which was activated through a catalytic reaction. High-pressure gases were channeled into two augmentor tubes, manufactured by Bertin, positioned on either side of the pilot and slightly angled outward. These tubes improved thrust by drawing airflow via aero-thermo-dynamic ducts, using heat and kinetic energy to enhance the efficiency of the exhaust nozzles.