SNCASE Languedoc - Design and Development

Design and Development

The prototype first flew on 15 December 1939. It underwent a slow development programme and the test flying was not completed until January 1942. The French Vichy government ordered the aircraft into production in December 1941. With the German invasion of southern France in 1942 the production of 20 aircraft for Air France and the Luftwaffe was slowed down, as the French aircraft workers were sent to Germany, and the Ukrainian replacements were not as skilled. Eventually the wartime production programme was abandoned.

After the liberation of France the provisional government led by general De Gaulle authorised production to be resumed with the first series production aircraft, designated the SE.161, first flying on 25 August 1945. Some of the delay is attributed to the out-going Ukrainian workers being reluctant to complete the aircraft ordered by Germany in 1942. Sadly, upon repatriation to the USSR, the workers were killed, despite their aviation knowledge.

An initial batch of 40 production examples was complated for Air France between October 1945 and April 1948. The Languedoc was an all-metal four-engined low wing cantilever monoplane airliner with a twin fins and rudders. It had a crew of five (pilot, co-pilot/navigator, radio operator, flight engineer and steward) Standard cabin accommodation was for 33 passengers seated in eleven rows of three, two on the starboard side and one to port. An alternative first class arrangement was for 24 seats. A 44 seat higher density version was introduced by Air France in 1951.

The Languedoc was fitted with underwing retractable main undercarriage wheels and a tailwheel landing gear and was powered by four 1150 hp Gnome-Rhône 14N 44/45 or 54/55 radial engines in wing-leading edge nacelles, with partial convertibility to inline water-cooled pistons.

A total of 100 aircraft were built for Air France, the French Air Force and Navy. Several examples were utilised as test aircraft with the CEV at Villacoublay and elsewhere. The only export customer for new production aircraft was the Polish airline LOT which bought five with some being refitted with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engines.