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This is the second 022 built. This one never flew.
Powered by a 7040 lbf SNECMA Atar 101 D3 turbojet installed inside the ramjet. At 620 mph the ramjet produced a thrust of 14,300 lbf.
Designed as a supersonic interceptor. The turbojet allowed this ramjet powered aircraft to takeoff on its own. Previous models of the Leduc ramjets depended on a large mother aircraft to carry them aloft.
The first flight on turbojet alone occurred on Dec 26, 1956. The ramjet was lit for the first time on May 18, 1957. On Dec 21, 1957 it reached Mach 1.15. The fuel load was about 600 gallons. This would run the turbojet for about an hour or the ramjet for less than 10 min. The fuel pumps and generator was powered by a turboshaft Turomeca Artouste.
After completing 141 flight, of which 81 flight used the ramjet, the first 022 caught fire on takeoff in 1957.
This second prototype was under construction when the program was halted. Due to the costly Algerian war (1954-62), a number of French experimentally projects were canceled. Also the development of the turbojet with after burners was developing to the point where their performance was competitive with the fuel thirsty ramjets.
The Deduc family donated this aircraft to the Museum in 1979.Musée de l'air et de l'espace, Paris, Dec 2018
Excellent book on European experimental aircraft...
X-Planes of Europe: Secret Research Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946-1974 by Buttler and Delezenne
