Marlène Aviation

Thanks !

I have a slight doubt: do we also say "Landing" for seaplanes?

Not particularly spectacular, but here is one of my favourite photos from the early days of aviation.

In Brittany, a Bigoudène woman (in traditional dress) watches a seaplane land at Île-Tudy in 1917.

© Jacques de Thézac, Musée départemental Breton.

😶‍🌫️

The three-engined Couzinet 70 "Arc en ciel" was a mail plane developed in the early 1930s. After a brief period in service with Aéropostale, the aircraft was subsequently operated by Air France and made a total of 8 commercial crossings of the South Atlantic.

© British Pathé

I was mistaken; after checking, the plane crashed on 1 October 1934.

Potez 41 was a gigantic prototype heavy bomber with 4 engines.
It had a very unusual engine layout, with the engines mounted in pairs in two nacelles above the wing.
Although the aircraft appeared to be perfectly controllable and stable, it was not selected by the Air Force. It crashed in July 1934.

I'm pretty impressed by the all-terrain capabilities of the 1953 Potez 75... And what's more, it flies!
This was one of the first combat aircraft specifically designed for anti-tank warfare. Deemed obsolete, it was never mass-produced.
© ECPAD

* not a business jet but business aircaft *

The Loire 102 ‘Bretagne’ was a prototype seaplane built in 1936 for transatlantic mail transport.
It suffered from serious vibration problems that were never resolved. Despite its promising name, the ‘Bretagne’ was scrapped in 1938 without ever having been put into service.

The surprising Moynet ‘Jupiter’. Designed by Mr Moynet and built by Matra and then Sud Aviation, it was a prototype business jet with a strange push-pull configuration, with one engine at the front and a second at the rear.
It made its maiden flight in 1963.

© ECPAD

The Pa-49 ‘Katy’ still exists and is on display at the Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget.

The Pa-48/3 Mars jet fighter project was proposed by engineer Nicolas Roland Payen (French father of the delta wing), to the French authorities in 1947.
Eager to prove that this concept was feasible, he decided to produce a smaller version, the Pa-49 Katy, but failed to convince the authorities.

Rare picture of the Dewoitine D.337 medium bomber prototype. This beautiful machine was based on the architecture of the Dewoitine D.331 aircraft. The first flight took place on 15 July 1935. Dewoitine had been asked to retain a fixed landing gear, which limited the aircraft's speed and range.

Some Dewoitine aircraft :

In 1909, aboard his elegant Antoinette monoplane, Hubert Latham attempted to fly across the English Channel twice. These attempts made him very popular. Twice he attempted the difficult feat, twice he failed.

The NiD.590 of 1932 was a prototype aircraft designed for police in the French colonies.
Just behind the cockpit was an open cabin.
The careful design of the fuselage deflected airflow beyond the rear of the cabin, providing its occupants with a relatively quiet environment and excellent views.

The SNCASE SE.212 "Durandal" was a prototype jet fighter developed by France in the mid 50's, only two were built. It flew for the first time in 1956, despite its good flight quality, the "Mirage III" which could fly at Mach 2 was chosen by the french air force.

The Mirage F1 was a 1966 fighter and air superiority aircraft. It entered service with the French Air Force in 1973 and more than 700 were produced and sold in 11 countries.

© ECPAD

I think the French tradition is to make endless plane noses, so we might as well continue the tradition!

FAST !!!

I have been working for some time on a documentary about the Leduc 010 ramjet aircraft. It should have been available several months ago, but I have not been diligent enough in its production. I promise you that it is late (very late), but it is coming!

The Aerospatiale ‘Corvette’ light twin-engine jet was a light utility transport aircraft, of which 40 were built. It was the French national aircraft manufacturer's only venture into the business jet market.
A few were used by Air France in the mid-1970s.

© Ralf Winter

When I'm bored, I imagine aeroplanes. Here's the ‘ Aiguille ’

painted by artist Johan Bringmans.

The few commercial routes of the gigantic transport seaplane ‘Latécoère 631’.
The most beautiful commercial seaplane in the world.

#OnThisDay 28 Feb 1944: Air France planes on the tarmac at Maison Blanche airport in Algiers. [2/3]

1+2: A Dewoitine D338 (Reg. No. F-AQBD).
3+4: A Farman F 2200 Transatlantique (Reg. No. F-AOXF).

#WWII #WW2 #Aviation #AviationHistory #MilitaryHistory #France #Algeria #AirFrance

The D.338... I understand that some people may not find it very attractive, but in my eyes it's a rather unique Art Deco marvel!

I say one of my favourites, but I think my heart will always be with the Leduc 010, whose construction began in 1938.