On this day in aviation history, 87 years ago (May 11, 1939), the SNCAC NC.150 flew for the first time. Also known as the Centre NC.150, this aircraft was a French high-altitude bomber prototype. The NC.150 was designed and flown just prior to the onset of WWII. A twin-engined monoplane, the NC.150 was unique in having a third engine that drove a supercharger. In 1936, nationalization of the French aircraft industry led to the creation of the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Centre (SNCAC). SNCAC began work on a bomber as a private venture in 1938, developing two prototypes with unpressurized cabins. The French Air Ministry took an interest in the potential bomber and placed an order for the two prototypes on April 24 of 1939. The first prototype, NC.150.01, first took flight from Toussus-le-Noble on 5/11/1939.
Delays to the Lioré et Olivier LeO 45 and Amiot 354 twin-engined bombers concerned the French Air Ministry, but early testing of the NC.150 led to optimism. In an effort to expedite production of the new bomber, the option of pressurization was abandoned. Additionally, the “third engine” central supercharger (the “bi-tri” concept) would be replaced by individually supercharged engines. Plans were made for two production versions of the SNCAC bomber: the NC.152 (powered by Hispano-Suiza engines) and the NC.153 (with imported American radial engines).
In June of 1940, France was forced to surrender to Germany, thus halting any further development of the NC.150. The NC.150 prototype had a crew of four. Power was provided by a combination of two 960-hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y 32/33 liquid-cooled V12 engines, along with one 690-hp Hispano-Suiza 12Xirs liquid-cooled V12 engine, which drove the NC-C2 supercharger. The aircraft could cruise at 317 mph and attain a maximum airspeed of 373 mph. The NC.150 had a range of 1,188 nmi and a service ceiling of 37,350 ft. Had the NC.150 been placed into production, the bomber would have been armed with a 20-mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon (in a dorsal mounting), another 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun in the nose, and a final machine gun in a ventral mounting. A bomb capacity of 2,650 pounds was planned for the NC.150.
