SNECMA Coléoptère
SNECMA · France · first flew 1958 · fighter
The SNECMA Coléoptère was a French experimental annular-wing VTOL aircraft of 1958, which used a ring-shaped wing surrounding a vertical single-jet fuselage to take off and land vertically.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.02 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Annular (ring) wing VTOL experimental aircraft
- Single Atar turbojet pointing vertically for takeoff
- Aircraft sits on tail for vertical launch — bizarre layout
Instantly unique — a fuselage enclosed within a wide annular ring-wing, sitting vertically on four outrigger legs, with no conventional wing or tail; unlike any other aircraft ever built.
Specifications
- The SNECMA Coléoptère has a length of 8.02 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 3.2 m (10 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by SNECMA with German engineer Helmut von Zborowski, the Coléoptère flew vertically tethered before making free flights in 1959. The sole prototype crashed in August 1959 during a transition from vertical to horizontal flight, killing the programme.
Variants
Only one prototype was built; the concept proved unworkable for transition flight.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; destroyed in the fatal test crash of August 1959.
Related aircraft
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