Aérospatiale Ludion

The Sud Aviation/Aérospatiale SA-610 Ludion (Ludion - Cadet) was a tiny, unorthodox VTOL aircraft demonstrated at the 1967 Paris Air Show. It consisted of little more than a chair, behind which were mounted two downward-pointing augmented rocket engines with control provided by thrust vectoring. The Ludion was intended to carry its pilot and 30 kg (66 lb) of equipment up to 700 m (2,300 ft) at an altitude of up to 200 m (600 ft).

SA-610 Ludion
The Ludion resting at the Musee d'L'Air, Le Bourget, Paris
Role VTOL research aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer Sud Aviation
Aérospatiale
First flight 1967

The unusual powerplant consisted of a monofuel de-composition chamber fed with pressurised isopropyl nitrate (AVPIN), ignited by a catalyst. The high pressure gasses produced in the de-composition chamber were fed to two augmentor tubes, built by Bertin, either side of the pilots seat, angled slightly outwards. As the gasses entered the augmentor tubes through rocket nozzles, thrust was augmented by inducing airflow through the ducts which acted as aero-thermo-dynamic ducts, due to the heat and kinetic energy added to the flow through the ducts, and the carefully shaped exhaust nozzles.

Specifications (SA-610 Ludion)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: payload 30 kg (66 lb)
  • Length: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
  • Width: 1.485 m (4 ft 10 in)
  • Height: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
  • Empty weight: 90 kg (198 lb)
  • Gross weight: 170 kg (375 lb) approx
  • Powerplant: 1 × SEPR S178 isopropyl nitrate (AVPIN) decomposition gas generator with augmentor tubes

Performance700 m (2,297 ft)

References
  1. "AEROSPATIALE LUDION SPECIFICATIONS". Thunderman.net. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 38.
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