S.O. 4050 Vautour IIN (late) instruction manual

The S.O. 4050 Vautour (vultur) IIN late is a second-generation two seat French interceptor fighter aircraft with all-weather capabilities that entered service in 1956. During its service, it participated in several conflicts in Israel, shooting down two Jordanian Hawker Hunter fighters. In France, it served as a launching platform for the first French radar-guided missiles. However, it was soon replaced by the much more advanced Dassault Mirage III, which was capable of supersonic flight.

Table of contents:

Flight performance

Maneuverability

The Vautour is relatively heavy and not very maneuverable. It compensates for these disadvantages with its high speed and climb rate. It maneuvers best at speeds around 600 km/h. However, its maneuverability is terrible at lower speeds. Also, be careful at high speeds, especially in a dive, because maneuverability worsens over 1000 kilometers per hour. The best way to shoot down an enemy is with a fast attack from a high altitude.

Structural limits

The Vautour is a very heavy, robust, and fast aircraft. You don’t have to worry about the pilot falling asleep due to high overload. At the same time, the robust wings allow the aircraft to turn at high speeds without breaking. So you can turn at 1000 kilometers per hour without the pilot falling asleep or the wings breaking. This is very useful in a dive when you need to pull up at almost supersonic speed. This plane also has a drogue chute that helps you brake on the ground.

Engines

The SNECMA ATAR 101 E5 is a very powerful non-afterburner engine with WEP (110%). The thrust of one engine (with WEP) is 3790 kg (7580 kg total), and 3490 kg (6980 kg total) without WEP. The engine is also very economical, which means that you don’t have to take a lot of fuel. However, the engine is very fragile and loses a lot of power when hit. The absence of an extinguisher means that in the event of a fire there is no chance of rescue.

Avionics

DRAC 32A radar in the Vautour is quite powerful (50 kilometers range). But you can’t use it at low altitude because every hill is an obstacle that completely obscures it and you can’t aim. It's best used at altitudes above 3000 meters against high-flying aircraft.

Settings:

Survivability

Pilots

The pilots are very well protected. There is 3mm armor around the entire cockpit, a 13.5mm armor plate in front of the first pilot’s legs and 6mm in front of the dashboard. There is also another 13.5mm armor plate behind the second pilot’s head and 50mm bulletproof glass in front of the first pilot. However, the cabin is large and unprotected from above, which means that if the enemy gets a good shot, they can kill both pilots.

Plane

The fuselage of the aircraft is very robust; the same goes for the wings. The fuselage of the Vautour is made in one piece (in a normal aircraft, the fuselage is composed of three parts: the nose, the center of the fuselage and the rear part with the rudder and elevator), which helps its strength. The aircraft can easily absorb a long burst of fire from large-caliber machine guns without being destroyed. The aircraft also has self-sealing fuel tanks in the fuselage, so there is no risk of fire after a hit. There is also some armor from behind (2mm). The problem is the engines, which are fragile and easily catch fire after a hit.

Armament

Guns

The Vautour is armed with four DEFA 552 30mm cannons. These cannons are absolutely deadly. Even an indirect hit (such as a hit to the wingtip or elevator) can send the enemy to the ground or cause very critical damage. But be careful! The ammunition supply is only 400 rounds (100 rounds for each cannon). Aim well and fire only when you are sure of a hit. The fire rate is 1200 rounds per minute.

Missiles

Missiles are one of the advantages of the Vautour. Although they are slow and have only average guidance, they will help in shooting down bombers and fast-climbing fighters.

Matra R 511

The first SARH guided missile in the world (it was accepted into service in 1952, before the Vautour entered service). The missile did not have an aircraft capable of launching it for some time. The Vautour became the first aircraft capable of using it. (The second and last were the Dassault Mirage IIIC and IIIE). In the game, it is the first missile with the All-aspect capability, the first radar-guided missile, and also the lowest BR radar missile. This missile is quite slow. It reaches maximum speed for only two seconds. Its guidance is also not very good, but it is suitable for shooting down heavy bombers such as the IL 28, Tu 4, Tu 14 and Canberra.

AA-20 Nord

The MCLOS guided missile is not very fast and is difficult to control, but it is more maneuverable than the Matra R511. If you are comfortable with this type of missile and know how to control it, it can be a deadly weapon against every enemy aircraft.

Comparable aircraft

The Vautour is a specific type of aircraft and there are not many comparable aircraft. Here are some examples

Javelin F. MK.9

This aircraft is the closest to the Vautour. It is armed with four 30mm ADEN cannons and also can carry missiles. However, unlike the Vautour, it has afterburner and better maneuverability.

F3H Demon

This plane is faster than the Vautour (because of afterburner). It can carry missiles and its climb rate is better. However, its acceleration is worse.

MiG-19

Much faster and with better climb (thanks to afterburner). But not agile (you can out-turn him, when he is diving). Can carry missiles. If he’s in the enemy team, better get out of the airspace.

F-104 Starfighter

The Starfighter has an enormous climb rate and a huge top speed (almost Mach 2). It is also armed with missiles and a Vulcan rotary cannon. But its maneuverability is incredibly poor, which means that if it dives at you, you can easily outmaneuver it.

Gameplay

Air RB

Fuel: 10-12min

Amunition belt: Air targets

At first, gain altitude to be safe from the more agile fighters flying low. If you want to destroy bombers, gain altitude to 3500 meters. However, if you want to fight fighters, climb to 6000-7000 meters. Here you can use missiles to destroy rapidly climbing opponents. Fly until you see that the enemies are below you. Choose one of them (preferably a lone one) and attack with a dive. After the attack, use your speed and return to a safe altitude. Repeat this procedure until the enemy team is destroyed. However, if you have not destroyed anyone, focus on ground targets. Cannons are also good for this purpose.

Vautour IIN late is not good plane for Ground RB. If you want Vautour in Ground RB, Research IIB, or IIA variant. Because they have a bomb load

Usage in battles:

Always take four missiles. They are inaccurate and it is better to have as many as possible.

Don’t take too much fuel. Vautour is economical and you will have enough fuel even if you take only a minimal amount.

The best way to avoid dying is to maintain altitude. When you’re flying close to the ground, you don’t have much chance of escaping faster and more agile opponents.

The best way to destroy enemies is to dive from a high altitude. Approach the selected enemy. When you are about 2 kilometers away from him, extend the air brake. You will have a better chance of shooting down the enemy if he tries to shake you off with a turn. If you miss, don’t worry. Extend the air brake and climb back up. When you are exhausted, roll the plane over and repeat the attack.

In head-on attacks, it is better to use missiles. The Vautour is a big target and if the enemy knows how to aim, it can be the end of you. However, if you are low and the enemy team has the last plane left, it can be worth the risk.

Do not fly behind bombers like IL-28 or Tu-4. They are heavily armed and very dangerous. It is better to use a missile and force them to maneuver. This will give you the opportunity to fire from the cannons.

If you are being chased by a slightly faster plane, fly to the ground and try to get to the base. The Vautour is fuel efficient and the enemy may stop chasing you due to lack of fuel.

My recommended tactic:

Climb to 6000 meters and accelerate to 950-1000 kilometers per hour. At this height you have a beautiful overview of enemy planes. If you see any of them approaching you, turn on the radar and send a missile at a distance of about 2.5 kilometers. Perform an evasive maneuver and climb to 8000 meters. Then fly over the enemy planes, turn back, choose one of them and destroy it with a quick attack.