Sud-Ouest
SNCASO Trident
The SNCASO Trident was a French jet trainer and light attack aircraft developed in the early 1950s by Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO), later merged into Sud‑Ouest. Conceived to replace the aging piston‑engine trainers of the French Air Force, the Trident first flew on 19 July 1955 and entered limited service in 1957. Its most distinctive feature was the twin‑engine, low‑wing configuration powered by two Turbomeca Marboré turbo‑jets, delivering a maximum speed of about 800 km/h and a service ceiling of 12 000 meters. The aircraft incorporated a retractable tricycle landing gear, fully glazed canopy for excellent visibility, and a reinforced wing structure that could carry rockets or light bombs for close‑support missions. Although only a small batch of 20 units was produced, the Trident demonstrated the viability of jet propulsion for training purposes and influenced later designs such as the Fouga Magister. Its operational use during the Algerian War provided valuable experience in jet‑assisted ground‑attack tactics. The Trident’s brief career highlighted the transition of post‑war French aviation from propeller‑driven trainers to modern jet platforms, marking a pivotal step in the evolution of NATO‑aligned air forces.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1953