The Sud Aviation Vautour was an early French multi role aircraft that was developed and entered service during the 1950s. It was relatively successful and flew with the air forces of France and Israel in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Sud Aviation Vautour was developed to give the French air force a jet bomber, attack aircraft and all-weather interceptor.

The prototype made its first flight on 16 October 1952 and they began entering service in 1958.

A total of 149 were produced in three variants to fill those three roles.

The Vautour was a competent but not outstanding aircraft. It was underpowered and lacked many modern refinements that would have made it more effective.

It remained in front line service with the Armee de l’Air for a relatively short period until better aircraft replaced it. It was also employed by the Israeli air force where it was relatively successful.

This model represents a Vautor IIB flying with 2/29e Escadre de Bombardement ‘Aquitane’ in the early 1960s.

Azur 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in March 2019.