|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCALE: 1/40 |
|
|
INITIAL RELEASE: 1961 |
|
|
MEDIUM: Polystyrene |
|
|
RARITY: (4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snecma C.450 Coléoptère in Flight |
|
ABOUT THE DESIGN |
ABOUT THE KIT |
|
The C.450 Coléoptère was France's attempt to build a tail-sitting VTOL fighter in the same vein as America's experimental Lockheed XFV-1 "Salmon," Convair XFY-1 Pogo, and Ryan X-13 Vertijet. The Coléoptère was distinguished by its annular wing; that is, the wing was shaped like a hollow cylinder, which made the plane look like a flying beer keg. The Coléoptère was only test-flown a few times in 1959. During one of these tests, in an attempt to transition from horizontal to vertical flight, it crashed and was destroyed, killing its pilot. |
Released in the early 1960s and again in 1965 by France's Heller company, this is the only near-1/48 scale model of this airplane ever produced. In the 1990's Mach 2 (also French) released a 1/72-scale version complete with transport trailer. This model is from Heller's second release. |
|
|
||||
|
|
X-Planes & Prototypes |
Home X-Planes Concept Aircraft Spacecraft & Missiles Concept Spacecraft Science Fiction Grab Bag
