Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, June 2007

Paumier 1912, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:54:00 GMT

Paumier 1912, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Deperdussin B, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:51:00 GMT

Deperdussin B, given to the museum in 1919 by the Blériot-SPAD company and fully restored in 1983, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Antoinette VII, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:39:00 GMT

Antoinette VII, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget. The propeller, the engine and the fuselage are original, given to the Museum by the Aeronautical Institute of Sainy-Cyr. The tubular wings, empennage and radiators were superbly rebuilt by Jean Baptist in the late 1950s.

Bleriot XI, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:30:00 GMT

Louis Bleriot became the first man to fly across the English Channel in 1909 in a similar aircraft to this one, powered by a three cylinder Anzani engine, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Wright Flyer replica, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:17:00 GMT

The influence that the Wright Brothers' Flyer had on early aircraft design can be seen in this French built version. Some attempt to enclose a primative fuselage structure forward of the pilot is evident.

Santos Dumont, Demoiselle, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:09:00 GMT

Santos Dumont, a Brazilian, did much to further aviation in France in the early 1900s. Here is an example of his aircraft, the Demoiselle, on show in the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget. Many early aviators flew this unusually configured aircraft, and one such example of a Demoiselle can be seen about to be flown by Edmond Audemars from Switzerland, sitting under his high-wing, wire-braced Demoiselle monoplane.

Liore et Olivier LeO C.302, F-BDAD, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:02:00 GMT

Liore et Olivier LeO C.302, F-BDAD, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget. This was a licence built Cierva autogyro.

Sud-Est SE.3101, F-WFDQ, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:51:00 GMT

Sud-Est SE.3101, F-WFDQ, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget. Certain parts used in its construction came from the German World War II helicopter, the Focke Achgelis 61. By 1946, the group of French and German engineers along with Professor Focke constructed this one-seater experimental helicopter, the SE.3101, that first flew on 15th June 1948 and was piloted by Jean Boulet.

Coincidentally, during the 2007 Paris Air Show, Jean Boulet, former head of the Flight Test Department in the Helicopter Division of Aerospatiale, was presented with the 2007 John J Schneider Historical Achievement Award.

Jean Boulet continues to hold the world record for helicopter altitude established 35 years ago. Jean Boulet and the helicopter met up somewhat by chance, as did most of his colleagues in the immediate post-war era when vertical flight in Europe was still chiefly an experimental affair. Jean Boulet graduated from the French "Ecole polytechnique" and trained as a fighter pilot in the United States.

After serving in the French Air Force, he joined the French national company SNCASE in 1946 as engineer-pilot responsible for helicopter programs, a sector the company was planning to develop. Jean Boulet had never piloted a helicopter before, and after training – once again in the United States – he was issued French Helicopter Pilot License No. 8. He then served as a helicopter test pilot and, in 1953, was appointed Head of Helicopter Flight Testing – a position he was to hold for the next 22 years.

Until 1975, Jean Boulet participated in the development of the Alouette I and many other machines. As the most experienced pilot, Jean Boulet was judged capable of dealing with the unknown and given the honor of breaking numerous records for speed and endurance, and also for altitude, for which he is best known. On 6 June 1955, he reached an altitude of 8209 meters at the controls of the Alouette 2. Almost three years later on 5 June 1958, he smashed this record by achieving 9853 meters. Just eight days later, in yet another record attempt, he broke through the 10,000 meter mark to reach 10,984 meters in 17 minutes and 43 seconds. But this was not the end of the story. On 17 March 1969, the Aerospatiale SA315 Lama made its maiden flight. The Lama was a winning combination of an Alouette II airframe and a Turbomeca Artouste IIIC engine, and was tailor-made for aerial work over mountainous terrain.

On 21 June 1972, Jean Boulet spectacularly demonstrated the performance of the Lama by taking it up to an altitude of 12,440 meters. And thirty-five years later this record still stands! Jean Boulet, who lives out his retirement not far from Marignane, is the author of a book of reference, “History of the Helicopter as Told by its Pioneers – 1907 – 1956", which traces the early development of the helicopter.

Eurocopter

Morane-Saulnier MS.317, F-BCNM, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:48:00 GMT

Morane-Saulnier MS.317, F-BCNM, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Caudron C.635M Simoun, CS-ADG, F-ANRO, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:37:00 GMT

Caudron C.635M Simoun, ex CS-ADG, but marked as 'F-ANRO', Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget. A similar aircraft, the Caudron 630 can be seen flying in an image held in the Flight Archive.

Morane-Saulnier MS.230, 1048, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:34:00 GMT

Inverted Morane-Saulnier MS.230, 1048, ex French Air Force, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Zlin Z-326 Trener Master, F-BORT, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:19:00 GMT

Zlin Z-326 Trener Master, F-BORT, in dramatic pose, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Henri Mignet HM-8, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:17:00 GMT

Henri Mignet HM-8, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Henri Mignet, Pou du Ciel HM-14, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:12:00 GMT

Henri Mignet, Pou du Ciel, HM-14, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

De Rouge-Chabrillan-Bouffort Elytroplan, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:08:00 GMT

De Rouge-Chabrillan-Bouffort Elytroplan, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Morane-Saulnier MS.230, 1048, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:04:00 GMT

Inverted ex French Air Force Morane-Saulnier MS.230, 1048, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Piel CP.1310 Super Emeraude, F-BMJJ, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:01:00 GMT

Piel CP.1310 Super Emeraude, F-BMJJ, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Boeing-Stearman A75N1 Kaydet (PT-17), 41-8860, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:58:00 GMT

Boeing-Stearman A75N1 Kaydet (PT-17), 41-8860, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Breguet 19 Super Bidon, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:52:00 GMT

Breguet 19 Super Bidon, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Bernard 191 Grand Raid, F-AJGP, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:40:00 GMT

Bernard 191 Grand Raid, F-AJGP, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Caudron C.60, F-AINX, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:34:00 GMT

Caudron C.60 F-AINX, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Caudron C.277R Luciole, F-AOFX, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:28:00 GMT

Caudron C.277R Luciole, F-AOFX, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Farman F.455 Moustique, F-AOYL, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:26:00 GMT

Farman F.455 Moustique, F-AOYL, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

Cierva Gyroplane C.8L, G-EBYY, Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace

Baron Inchcape — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:13:00 GMT

Cierva Gyroplane C.8L, G-EBYY, flew to Paris from London on 18/09/28 and stayed in France. Now preserved with the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget

DH.89A Dragon Rapide

Baron Inchcape — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:08:00 GMT

DH.89A Dragon Rapide F-BHCD. Formerly HG721 with the RAF, postwar it was registered G-ALGB before being sold to France in late 1954. This aircraft flew as a parachute aircraft with Centre National de Parachutisme de Bourgogne Franche-Comte before joining the museum in September 1968.

Leduc 010, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007

Baron Inchcape — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 13:07:00 GMT

Leduc 010, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007. The flight of the Leduc 010 on 21 April 1949 with its ramjet operating represents the first flight of an aircraft solely propelled by a ramjet engine. One of the ramjet's main problems is its absence of thrust when it is motionless. To obtain an initial speed necessary for the startup of the engine, Rene Leduc thought of releasing his apparatus at altitude from a transporter aircraft. The selected aircraft was a four-engine transport SE-161 "Languedoc" especially modified.

SO.6000, F-WFKY Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007.

Baron Inchcape — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:31:00 GMT

SO.6000, F-WFKY Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007. This was the first French jet aircraft manufactured during the 1940's by SNCASO. The SO.6000 design began in 1943, as a clandestine project due to the German occupation, under engineer Lucien Servanty. Shortly after the war, the French government required five prototypes to be built.The two-seater was originally planned to receive a French-designed Rateau-Anxionnaz GTS-65 jet engine. But because of delays in the development of this engine, a German Junkers Jumo 004-B2 was fitted aboard the first prototype, which did its maiden flight on November 11th, 1946 at the hands of test pilot Daniel Rastel. The second prototype was used for static tests, and the three other were powered by a license-built Rolls-Royce Nene jet engine. Further development was abandoned and the SO.6000 was not used operationally.

Leduc 022-01, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007.

Baron Inchcape — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 06:17:00 GMT

Leduc 022-01, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007. This is the second of two prototypes, the first prototype was the only one to fly, this being at the end of 1956. The development of the Leduc 022 encountered many difficulties, in particular, reaching the speed of sound. It's design was doomed due to an imperfect aerodynamic study (in respect of the law of surfaces). On December 23 1957, a fire of broke out which put an end to any more development.

Nord 1500-02 Griffon II, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007

Baron Inchcape — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 06:01:00 GMT

Nord 1500-02 Griffon II, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 20 June 2007. This prototype of the light supersonic interceptor, first flew on January 23 1957. Flown by André Turcat on 5 October 1960 the Griffon achieved its fastest speed 2.19 mach.

Potez 43-7, F-APXO, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 2007

Baron Inchcape — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 19:20:00 GMT

Potez 43-7, F-APXO, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget, 2007