SNCASE SE.3000
SNCASE · France · first flew 1948 · transport aircraft
The SNCASE SE.3000 was a French post-war twin-rotor helicopter prototype developed with direct German technical input, closely based on the Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache that France had captured at the war's end.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Two large lateral rotor pylons extending either side of the fuselage on outrigger struts |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tandem side-by-side rotor layout closely resembling the Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache
- Two large lateral rotor pylons extending either side of the fuselage on outrigger struts
- Conventional wheeled undercarriage beneath a rounded utility fuselage
The side-by-side outrigger rotor arrangement is visually identical to the wartime Focke-Achgelis Fa 223. The two large three-blade rotors extending on pylons well clear of the fuselage are unmistakable. The round-nosed utility fuselage has large side windows for passenger visibility.
Specifications
- The SNCASE SE.3000 has a length of 12.2 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 24.5 m (80 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
France recruited Henrich Focke after 1945 to advise SNCASE engineers, and the SE.3000 was the result: a near-copy of the Fa 223 intended as a six-passenger utility helicopter. Three aircraft were ordered. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 23 October 1948 and achieved its first full hover on 10 March 1949. Engine reliability problems and competition from newer turboshaft designs led to cancellation; none entered production. The project was a crucial stepping stone for French rotary-wing expertise that eventually produced the Alouette series.
Variants
Three prototypes built, no production variants. The SE.3101 was a smaller concurrent SNCASE helicopter development following a different approach.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service. The first aircraft appeared at the Orly airshow in May 1949. Development ended in the early 1950s.
Related aircraft
- SNCASE SE.2010 Armagnac
- SNCASE Baroudeur
- Boeing KB-29
- Ilyushin Il-32
- Martin P5M Marlin
- Martin P5M-1 Marlin
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