Sud-Ouest SO-9000 Trident (1953)

Scale: 1/100
Initial Release: 1998 (Est.)
Medium: Styrene
Kit Rarity: 4

About the Design

In 1947, the French Air Ministry began development of a small, short-range interceptor to provide rapid point-defense capabilities for France's cities and military bases.  Prototyped by the Sud-Ouest Aircraft Co., the resulting SO-9000 "Trident" was a flying "hybrid" with three rocket motors in its fuselage and a turbojet on each wingtip. Designed to carry a single air-to-air missile, the "Trident" was successfully test-flown in 1953 and eventually achieved speeds of Mach 1.5.

Two prototypes were built and six production copies were ordered, but the "Trident" project was ultimately cancelled in 1958, its mission transferred to the Mirage III.

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About the Kit

This was a simple kit in an unusually small scale -- 1/100.  The kit featured no cockpit interior.

This model was built from an original issue.