I talk about the french aviation history, aircraft, projects, and flying machines designed in France. SE-210 "Caravelle" lover A scientific mediator in the space industryhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mrf2zbsyx22eThe Kolko ACA.5 was a fighter aircraft design developed by SNCAO from 1939 onwards. It was intended to be very compact and easy to manufacture. A model was tested in a wind tunnel in June 1939, but although its performance appeared to be good, the project was cancelled as it was deemed unstable.24 Jul 2026 09:46 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrf2zbsyx22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mrf22rm2hk2eA Besson “MB 411” reconnaissance aircraft, specially designed to be carried on board the giant submarine “Surcouf”, alongside the gigantic transatlantic seaplane Laté 521 “Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris”.24 Jul 2026 09:29 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrf22rm2hk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mrez4je35s26A fictional seaplane from the late 1940s for Air France’s transatlantic routes, the M.A HTCIII-2 “Sterenn”.24 Jul 2026 09:12 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrez4je35s26https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mrdmzj7hb22gThose zero-g flights in the Caravelle looked pretty intense.23 Jul 2026 20:03 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdmzj7hb22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mr5zoxjaw22gThe Potez 65/650 was a military version of the Potez 620 airliner. Produced and delivered to the French and Romanian Air Force in 1937, it was the first French aircraft dedicated to troop parachuting.21 Jul 2026 14:33 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5zoxjaw22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqzav4fals2eFirst test flight of Concorde 001 took place over Toulouse, on 2 March 1969. Concorde landed gently and used the parachute to brake. The pilot, Turcat, declared on leaving the plane: " The machine flies, and I can add that it flies well! " © British Pathé19 Jul 2026 16:59 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzav4fals2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqwgl4ixa227The Dassault Mercure, one of the rare attempts by the French aircraft manufacturer to produce an airliner, made its first flight in 1971. Similar to the Boeing 737 but faster, only 11 were produced for Air Inter, a victim of the oil crisis and its less versatile short-haul status ©Dassault Aviation18 Jul 2026 14:03 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwgl4ixa227https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mquqekj6j22jAn animated video from the 1960s explaining how the second and third stages of the ‘Diamant A’ rocket work to enable the deployment of the A-1 satellite, or ‘Astérix’, into orbit. © Ecpad17 Jul 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mquqekj6j22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mquihv3f2s2yThroughout its long career, the Caravelle was not confined to short- and medium-range service. Several Caravelle 10B3s were modified by the manufacturer at the request of Sterling, which operated a number of Caravelles on regular transatlantic routes between 1970 and 1973.17 Jul 2026 19:31 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mquihv3f2s2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqrzefxzoc2sI’d like to thank the UK team for working together with us to bring this marvellous project to life 🇨🇵🇬🇧16 Jul 2026 19:56 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrzefxzoc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqpdrnsens2yThe Nord 2200 was a carrier-based aircraft fighter aircraft developed by SNCAN in response to a 1946 French Navy programme. It flew for the first time on 16 December 1949, but was not selected and was never produced in series.15 Jul 2026 18:24 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpdrnsens2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqmapm5jok2lIn 1897, following his studies at the ‘Institut de Chimie Appliquée’, the Peruvian Pedro Eleodoro Paulet Mostajo became the first person to test a liquid-propellant rocket engine on a test bench in a Parisian laboratory. The thrust measured was one kilonewton.14 Jul 2026 12:51 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmapm5jok2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqlsq7m3422rHappy Bastille Day to you all! The Patrouille de France and their AlphaJets flying over the marvellous Mont Saint-Michel in 2019. © Patrouille De France (PAF)14 Jul 2026 08:41 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqlsq7m3422rhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqkb63jqe22aA 1938 advertisement for the Caudron C.440 Goéland. In my opinion, it is one of the most unjustly overlooked French aeroplanes. It was, in fact, one of the most widespread and high-performing commercial aeroplanes of the late 1930s to the early 1950s, with 1,702 units produced.13 Jul 2026 17:54 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkb63jqe22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqemoopvvk2aA map showing the countries that operated "Caravelle", either on passenger routes or for cargo. For an aircraft produced in small numbers (282) and belonging to the first generation of civil jets, this is very impressive... If I’ve forgotten any, please let me know 😅11 Jul 2026 12:04 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqemoopvvk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqehhxba5227A ‘Mirage III.C’ in flight in the early 1960s. The III.C variant was designed for fighter and interceptor roles. It was a truly magnificent aircraft. © Ecpad11 Jul 2026 10:31 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqehhxba5227https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqco2ie27222Air France promotional poster for the introduction of the Caravelle on 5 May 1959 on the network... In the end, it was 6 May... © Air France10 Jul 2026 17:23 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqco2ie27222https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mqcml23l3223The "Caravelle" No. 2 prototype, ‘F-WHHI’, at Saint-Louis-Lambert Field, Missouri, during its promotional tour of North and South America in 1957. © ESSO AIR WORLD10 Jul 2026 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqcml23l3223https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mq7nqr7b4c2dThe Ecquevilly "Multiplan" was an aeroplane built between 1907 and 1908, designed on the principle that ‘the more wings there are, the better it flies’. After numerous attempts, during which the number of wings increased from 6 to 7 and then to 25… It never left the ground.09 Jul 2026 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7nqr7b4c2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mq7lsbolds2dThe S.Poite ‘Type-3’ was a low-wing monoplane designed for tourism, built from metal in 1931. The glide ratio of this aircraft was quite remarkable: it reached 15.4, which, for a powered aircraft intended for practical use, was an impressive achievement. Its fate remains unknown.09 Jul 2026 12:05 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7lsbolds2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mq5eigkdkc2sThe Vuia N°1 was a aeroplane designed in France by the Romanian inventor Traian Vuia. Completed in 1905, it made its first flight in 1906. It was the first aeroplane to fly in front of an public. Its achievements were also widely reported in the press, as the project was not a secret.08 Jul 2026 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5eigkdkc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mq5c2bxqt22g‘Hommage à Blériot’ is a painting by Robert Delaunay from 1914. This work is part of the Simultaneism movement and pays tribute to the aviator Louis Blériot, the first man to fly an airplane across the English Channel, by depicting several aeroplanes and the Eiffel Tower.08 Jul 2026 14:05 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5c2bxqt22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mq5akb23ds23The Hurel-Dubois HD.31 at take-off. This was a prototype transport aircraft based on the concept dear to Hurel-Dubois, the high aspect ratio wings. It made its first flight in 1953.08 Jul 2026 13:38 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5akb23ds23https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mq324b6kn22wThe Morane Saulnier MS 430 was a 2-seater training aircraft developed in 1937 on the basis of the MS 406 fighter. As its engine was considered underpowered, a re-engined version, the MS 435, was ordered but was never delivered due to the Second World War. © Ecpad07 Jul 2026 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq324b6kn22whttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mpxpx5htd22dDC-7c “AMOR” was a heavily modified French version of the American airliner, which entered service in 1966. Its role was to provide support and telemetry tracking during the testing & launch of ballistic missiles. It is worth noting that it was possible to smoke a cigarette during the tests. ©Ecpad06 Jul 2026 08:58 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpxpx5htd22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mpqk5qedy22eBuilt in 1910 by Louis Schreck, the Diapason was a strange machine with a lyre-shaped wing. In 1911, fitted with a more powerful engine, it finally took to the air quite easily, however, it flew only by ground effect and was unable to gain altitude...03 Jul 2026 12:26 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpqk5qedy22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mpo4a6e7gk23The first draft of the ‘SNCAC NC.1080’ fighter project, dating from February 1946, featured an air intake situated directly in front of the cockpit, with the pilot looking through it to see ahead. I must admit that I do not really understand the point of such an arrangement...02 Jul 2026 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpo4a6e7gk23https://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mpnxosp3ms2tThe SNCAC NC.1080 was a prototype French carrier-based fighter built in 1949. Despite its attractive appearance, it was considered extremely unstable and, after numerous modifications, it crashed on 7 April 1950, killing test pilot Pierre Gallay, which brought the programme to an end.02 Jul 2026 11:50 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpnxosp3ms2thttps://bsky.app/profile/aviationmarlene.bsky.social/post/3mpnwiyiwd22fA charming toy version of the Latécoère 521, designed by JML (Jouet Magnin Lyon) in 1935. The Latécoère 521 was a giant flying boat from the mid-1930s.02 Jul 2026 11:29 +0000at://did:plc:snosoo46baphfrmdaveo2tpd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpnwiyiwd22f