SNCASO (Sud-Ouest) SO.M1

[Jemiba]

All photos of the SO. M1, as “the real thing” are showing it with the fighter-like cockpit, similar to the later SO. 4000. But the photo of what was probably a mock-up (it's a cut-out from a photo) for an aero-salon and the 3-view from a review of the Paris Aerosalon 1946 are showing it with a straked-in cockpit, as the artist’s impressionof the So.4000 in Cunys “Les Avions De Combat” .
Does anybody know, if the SO.M1 was actually fitted with this cockpit and modified later ?
Another question : I’ve never seen a photo of the SO. M1 flying, or on the ground. Had it a retractable skid, or was it just intended to make belly landings ? Anyone who has a photo showing more details ?

 

[Archibald]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

All photos of the SO. M1, as “the real thing” are showing it with the fighter-like cockpit, similar to the later SO. 4000. But the photo of what was probably a mock-up (it's a cut-out from a photo) for an aero-salon and the 3-view from a review of the Paris Aerosalon 1946 are showing it with a straked-in cockpit, as the artist’s impressionof the So.4000 in Cunys “Les Avions De Combat” .
Does anybody know, if the SO.M1 was actually fitted with this cockpit and modified later ?
Another question : I’ve never seen a photo of the SO. M1 flying, or on the ground. Had it a retractable skid, or was it just intended to make belly landings ? Anyone who has a photo showing more details ?

Hmmm I don't know if I can help for the cockpit, but I found
That
http://xplanes.free.fr/so4000/so4000-3.htm
In this article it is said that
" Le train d’atterrissage principal était un patin escamotable dans le fuselage et il y avait des balancines dans les saumons d’ailes."

There was a retractable skid under the fuselage and small wheels on the wingtips (how do you say balancines in english ??? The B-47 had that, among many others...)

PS there's no mention of cockpit change in this article, so I suppose that the SO-M1 always flew with the fighter like cockpit you mentionned...

 

[Archibald]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

looking at the photos and the date you mention, probability that the plane flew with this cockpit are very weak. The article mention that the plane flew on 6th April 1948.
This look like a prone position for the pilot no ?

 

[Jemiba]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

You're probably right, this layout wasn't actually used, maybe because the test pilots
protested, because of the abyssmal view out of the cockpit ? But for a prone pilot there
probably would have been no view ahead or downwards at all !

 

[dan_inbox]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

...small wheels on the wingtips (how do you say balancines in english ??? The B-47 had that, among many others...)

Outriggers, I believe

 

[Archibald]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

Merchi beaucoup!!!
Outriggers... as Homer would say talking to his brain "stupid head!!"

 

[Skybolt]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

Photo's quality is poor (come from a 1948 Italian magazine..) but the arrangement is quite clear.

 

[Jemiba]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

Sorry, but that's quite clearly the SO.M2, the jet powered manned model.
But perhaps I found a part of the answer to my question in my own book
shelf. In Cunys "Les Avions De Combat" is a rear view of the SO.M1 on the
Languedoc and I think, what's visible just beneath the fuselage of the SO.M1
could be the landing skid.

 

[Skybolt]

Re: SNCASO SO. M1

Oooops, the photo was captioned M1...

 

[PhR]

All photos of the SO. M1, as “the real thing” are showing it with the fighter-like cockpit, similar to the later SO. 4000. But the photo of what was probably a mock-up (it's a cut-out from a photo) for an aero-salon and the 3-view from a review of the Paris Aerosalon 1946 are showing it with a straked-in cockpit, as the artist’s impressionof the So.4000 in Cunys “Les Avions De Combat” .
Does anybody know, if the SO.M1 was actually fitted with this cockpit and modified later ?
Another question : I’ve never seen a photo of the SO. M1 flying, or on the ground. Had it a retractable skid, or was it just intended to make belly landings ? Anyone who has a photo showing more details ?

Hello,
both SO M1 and M2 were initially presented by SNCASO to the static exposition in the Grand Palais with "flush" cockpits, as shown in attached photos from my collection.
However, they flew only with full cockpit, as visible on screenshots from ECPA film.
The SO M1 was fitted with a simple retractable skid, while M2 received a 3-weel skooter-like retractable landing gear.

 

[PhR]

Pictures of the SO.M2 cockpit, with its recognizable left side windows.
This dashboard was presented sometimes by error as the SO-8000 one.