SNCASE SE.2010 Armagnac
SNCASE · France · first flew 1949 · airliner
The SNCASE SE.2010 Armagnac was a very large French four-engine piston airliner of the late 1940s intended for transatlantic service, one of the largest piston airliners ever built. Only eight were constructed and the type had a short and troubled commercial career.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Massive double-deck fuselage with large rectangular windows |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very large French four-engine piston airliner
- Massive double-deck fuselage with large rectangular windows
- Only eight built; brief service on Paris–New York route
An exceptionally large four-engine low-wing monoplane with a wide oval-section fuselage, four large radial engines in prominent nacelles, and a tall conventional tail. The size and the distinctive oval fuselage cross-section are the primary recognition features.
Specifications
- The SNCASE SE.2010 Armagnac has a length of 39.63 m (130 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 48.95 m (161 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 580 km/h (360 mph).
- Typical crew: 7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to compete on the prestige Paris–New York transatlantic route, the Armagnac was too large for Air France's actual requirements and suffered from high operating costs. Only eight were built and none achieved sustained commercial success on the intended route. Several were subsequently used as troop transports during the Indochina War, providing more practical employment.
Variants
All eight production aircraft were essentially identical; no significant production variants were developed.
Where you'll see it
Operated briefly by TAI (Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux) and Air France before being reassigned to military transport duties during the Indochina conflict in the early 1950s; withdrawn from service by the mid-1950s.
Related aircraft
- SNCASE SE.3000
- SNCASE Baroudeur
- Avro Canada C102 Jetliner
- Bristol Brabazon
- de Havilland Comet
- Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
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