Built from SO.6020 c/n 3. One of four prototypes which were built between 1948 and 1953.
Powered by one Rolls-Royce Nene 5000 lb. Plus one SEPR 251 Rocket Motor, 3310 lb. The air inlets for the Nene are on the underside in front of the rocket motor. The Inlets were poorly designed and did not supply enough air to the Nene. However, they was very effective at picking up trash on the ramp and runway.
The first flight with Nene only was Dec 28, 1949. The first flight using the rocket motor was June 10, 1952.
On Dec 15 1953 Charles Goujon took SO.6025 supersonic in level flight. Becoming the first aircraft to fly supersonic in level flight in Europe.
In 1953, registered as F-WFRG, this aircraft demonstrated takeoffs with the rocket motor at the Paris Air Show.
Rocket engine was fueled by a triethylamine xylidine mixtures known as TX. The oxidizer was nitric acid. Later the toxic TX was replace by jet fuel. A small quantity of TX was required for starting since jet fuel is not hypergolic with nitric acid.
SEPR 251 Rocket Motor
The fuel and oxidizer pumps for the rocket motor were powered by a shaft from the Nene.
The fuselage of the aircraft still exists at the Ailes Anciennes de Toulouse museum.
