[3] Towed to the release point by SNCAC Martinet, Douglas DC-3 or SNCASE Languedoc transport aircraft, the glider provided valuable data for the design of the Gerfaut.

[4] Based on this data SFECMAS's chief designer, Jean Galtier, initiated the 1400, 1500 and 1910 interceptor projects with delta wings and different types of propulsion systems.

Galtier decided to minimize the development risk by keeping the 24-kilonewton (5,400 lbf) SNECMA Atar 101C turbojet installation as simple as possible.

The air intake occupied the entire nose of the monocoque fuselage that was fitted with tricycle landing gear.

[7] The Gerfaut I first flew on 15 January 1954 and it became the first aircraft in Europe to exceed Mach 1 in level flight, without using afterburning, on 3 August.

[8] In June, the Gerfaut II performed two demonstrations at the Paris Air Show and then began conducting flight tests of the AA.20.

[9] Data from X-Planes of Europe: Secret Research Aircraft From the Golden Age 1946–1974[1]General characteristics Performance