SNECMA Atar Volant
| Company type | Turbojet engine |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1950s |
| Founder | SNECMA |
| Products | Turbojet engines for VTOL aircraft |
The SNECMA Atar Volant, also identified as the C.400 P1, was a French turbojet engine manufactured by SNECMA within their "Atar" engine lineup. Encapsulated within a simple housing containing fuel and remote control systems, it had a weight of and produced approximately 6,200 pounds-force (27.6 kN) of thrust, facilitating vertical lift—the principal objective behind its design. Later iterations of the Atar Volant introduced enhancements that ultimately led to a complete VTOL aircraft.
Background and purpose
During the 1950s, SNECMA developed the Coléoptère, a VTOL ("Vertical Take-Off and Landing") aircraft distinguished by its annular wing design, which allowed for extremely limited takeoff and landing footprints. This design presented challenges such as counteracting torque generated by the vertically oriented turbine and compressor, as well as maintaining stability while hovering on the jet exhaust. To overcome these obstacles and enable vertical lift capability, SNECMA initiated development of the initial Atar Volant prototypes.
Improvements, alterations and later models
A minimum of four Atar Volant versions were constructed: C.400 P.1, C.400 P.2, C.400 P.3, and the ultimate C.450-01 model. The C.400 P.2 gained prominence following its showcase at an international air exhibition in Le Bourget, Paris. The subsequent C.400 P.3 incorporated modifications that transformed it into a full-scale coleopter-type aircraft. The C.450-01 performed its inaugural flight in May 1959 but was involved in a crash two months later during test operations; the pilot sustained serious injuries, and the prototype was destroyed, resulting in project discontinuation.
Variants
Information sourced from: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59
- C.400 P.1
- Initial remotely controlled test platform powered by a vertically mounted Atar 101DV engine.
- C.400 P.2
- Second test vehicle equipped with an ejection seat positioned above the fuselage for pilot safety; achieved first free flight on 14 May 1957.
- C.400 P.3
- Third test model featuring a tilting ejection seat within an enclosed cockpit environment, closely resembling the later SNECMA C.450 Coléoptère.