SNCAO CAO.600
SNCAO · France · first flew 1940 · fighter
The CAO.600 was a French single-engine fighter prototype developed by SNCAO (Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques de l'Ouest) that first flew in 1940. It was overtaken by the German occupation of France before it could be developed further.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.22 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French WWII fighter prototype with inline engine
- Mid-mounted tapered wing
- SNCAO single-seat fighter of 1940
A relatively conventional mid-wing monoplane fighter of its era, distinguished by a long fuselage and broad tapered wing; comparatively low speed for a 1940 fighter prototype suggests development was incomplete.
Specifications
- The SNCAO CAO.600 has a length of 12.22 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.5 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 380 km/h (236 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in the late 1930s as part of France's push to modernize its fighter inventory, the CAO.600 made its first flight in early 1940. The fall of France in June 1940 brought the programme to an abrupt halt after only limited testing. The type never progressed beyond the prototype stage.
Variants
Only a single prototype was completed; no production variants were developed.
Where you'll see it
The CAO.600 saw no operational service, being cancelled as a result of the French armistice in 1940.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.