J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Vendome A3 Biplane

  The Vendome biplane was built in 1916, intended to meet the STAe A3 specification calling for a three-seat aircraft for army cooperation and light attack missions. It was similar to the Salmson-Moineau S.M.1, also designed to the A3 specification.
  The Vendome's two 120-hp Gnome Monosoupape rotary engines were buried inside the fuselage, each driving a propeller via a bevel gear. The engines rotated in opposite directions to counteract torque. As in the S.M.1, the pilot was seated in the center cockpit with gunners in the nose and aft. The slender rear fuselage had a large fin and a rudder with a crescent shaped trailing edge. It seems likely that the complex transmission system and the large number of struts would have reduced performance and created maintenance problems. The type was not selected for production.



Vendome Ab2

  In 1917 the STAe formulated requirement Ab2, calling for a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft for short-range missions. It was to have light armor and carry a radio and camera. In 1918 two aircraft were produced to meet this requirement: the Salmson 4 and the Vendome, which was powered by a 300-hp Hispano-Suiza engine. No production was undertaken.