1/72 Sud-Ouest SO 6021 Espadon Paper Model

Description

The Sud-Ouest SO.6021 Espadon (Swordfish) was a French post-war prototype interceptor, developed in the late 1940s by SNCASO as a refined version of the earlier SO.6020. This specific variant was designed to be a lighter, pre-production fighter, featuring a reduced weight of approximately 400 kg and an enlarged wing and vertical stabilizer to improve its aerial performance.

Powered by a license-built Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet engine, the SO.6021 was capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 0.96 in a dive, though it famously struggled with severe buffeting at higher speeds. Despite its sleek appearance and technical revisions, the aircraft suffered from poor maneuverability and longitudinal stability, which made it an ineffective gunnery platform. Ultimately, the French Air Force judged the design a failure and canceled production plans in 1951, leading the surviving prototypes to be repurposed as testbeds for the subsequent SO.9000 Trident program.