Sud Aviation Vautour

Sud Aviation Vautour gate guardian at Brétigny sur Orge air base. The Sud Aviation (SNCASO) S.O. 4050 Vautour II was a French bomber, interceptor, and attack aircraft used by the Armée de l'Air (AdA) and the Israeli Heyl Ha'Avir. First prototype flew on 16 October 1952. On 30 June 1953 it became the first European aircraft to exceed the speed of sound (in a shallow dive). It entered service in 1958, with the last French aircraft leaving frontline service in 1979. A few soldiered on in various duties into the early 1980s.