In 1949, the French military issued requirement for a utility transport that used to accomplish the long-range troop and equipment transport role. Due to the budgetary difficulties, the French military asked the industry-financed "off-the-shelf" civilian aircraft. In the meantime, some Sub-Est SE.161 Languedoc airliners were planned to remove from service by Air France. Ten Languedoc were sell off to the French military. All were converted with a large ventral gondola, observation windows and a ventral search radar for search and rescue operations. In 1951, the French Air Force bought newly built Languedoc as transport aircraft from the end of the production line. In 1952, the Air Force launched an emerging project of a Mach-2 fighter. Two Leduc 021 ramjet-powered test-bed were built. To obtain an initial speed necessary for the startup of the engine, Leduc designed of releasing the 021 at altitude from a transporter aircraft. Languedoc was once again selected as a carrier aircraft. The two 021 completed their career when the Leduc 022 accomplished its first flight in 1956. 

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Long-range transport airplane

Use as a multi-role military transport.

96ft.5in.

79ft.7in.

16ft.10in.

4x Gnome-Rhône 14N radial engine

274mph

5

8,650 lbs payloads

The Sud-Est SE.161 Languedoc is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Post war propeller-driven long range cargo transport aircraft

Antonov An-12 Cub

Antonov An-22 Antei

Antonov An-26 Curl

Antonov An-32 Cline

Blackburn Beverley C.1

Boeing C-97

Breguet Br.765 Sahara

Convair C-131 Samaritan

Convair XC-99

Douglas C-118A Liftmaster

Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

Douglas C-133 Cargomaster

de Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Handley Page Hastings

Lockheed C-121 Constellation

Lockheed R6O-1 Constitution

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Short SC.5 Belfast

Transall C-160

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Modern French aircraft