The SNCAO CAO.700 was a French prototype four-engined bomber of all-metal construction, developed shortly prior to and during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Only a single example had been completed and flown when the surrender of France in June 1940 ended development of the aircraft.
Design and development
In 1937 the French ''Service Technique de l'Aeronautique'' (or Air Ministry) launched a specification to develop a four engined strategic bomber.
Operational history
The prototype flew for the first time on 24 June 1940, but further testing was cancelled due to the
French surrender to Germany. Power was provided by four
Gnome-Rhône 14N
The Gnome-Rhône 14N was a 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine designed and manufactured by Gnome-Rhône just before the start of World War II. A development of the Gnome-Rhône 14K, the 14N was used on several French and even one Ger ...
radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ca ...
s.
Specifications
See also
;Related development
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SNCAO CAO.600
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
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Boeing B-17
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...
*
Focke-Wulf Fw 200
The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 ''Condor'', also known as ''Kurier'' to the Allies (English language, English: Courier), was a Nazi Germany, German all-metal four-engined monoplane originally developed by Focke-Wulf as a long-range airliner. A Japanese req ...
*
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax is a British Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It was developed by Handley Page to the same specification as the contemporary twin-engine Avro Manchester.
The Halifax has its or ...
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Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The Stirling was designed during t ...
References
Further reading
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External links
Aviafrance CAO-700
{{SNCAO aircraft
1940s French bomber aircraft
SNCAO 700
The SNCAO CAO.700 was a French prototype four-engined bomber of all-metal construction, developed shortly prior to and during the Second World War. Only a single example had been completed and flown when the surrender of France in June 1940 ended ...
Four-engined tractor aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1940
Four-engined piston aircraft