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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1642.PDF
FLIGHT, 12 June 1959 THE FRENCH INDUSTRY Current Products and Prospects 795 THE French aircraft industry is in many ways very similarto that in Britain and it has, during the past two years,suffered a reduction of defence orders in very much the same way. But apparently regrettable cut-backs are offset by the factthat France has a Mach 2 intercepter and, unlike Britain, a super- sonic bomber. Sud alone have built over 1,000 helicopters, manyof them turbine-powered, and a jet airliner has gone into service. A few vital statistics serve to size up the industry in general.Altogether, it employs 85,000 people, and last year the turnover was nearly Fr. 200 X109—approximately equivalent to that ofthe French ship-building industry. Covered floor area totals 21,520,000 sq ft, half of it used by the airframe constructors. Of23,700 machine tools, 39 per cent are used for airframes, 26.5 per cent for engines, and 34.5 per cent for equipment manufacture.The accompanying map illustrates the distribution of the aircraft factories and the concentration of 60 per cent of the manpower inthe Paris region. While 1957 was a peak year for employment, 1958 saw a 20 per cent reduction of labour for equipment manu-facture and a 12 per cent reduction for engines. Of the manpower force, 7 per cent are engineers and executives, 33 per cent tech-nicians, designers and administrative, and 60 per cent specialist, skilled and unskilled workers. About one-third are occupied onprototype and research work. Among the 250 aeronautical companies, 18 airframe and enginemanufacturers employ 73 per cent of the total manpower. Of the 250, 157 companies belong to the Union Syndicate des IndustriesAeronautiques (equivalent to the S.B.A.C). It is noticeable that sub-contract work is well spread around to keep each companybusy as far as possible. A tremendous effort has gone into the rapid production of the Caravelle, in which probably 50 per centof the French industry is involved. A number of aircraft com- panies, such as Latecoere, Sipa and Hurel-Dubois, subsistvirtually on sub-contracts. Hispano Suiza is now concentrating on hydraulics. French manufacturers have established an excel-lent reputation for landing gear, powered controls, radio and instruments, and for large radar aerials. Carefully stimulated by the Government, the club and touringaircraft movement has given birth to a number of thriving small companies with quite large production capacity. Amongst theseare Wassmer, S.A. Normande, Fauvel, Coopavia, Rousseau Dinard, Alpavia and several others.The following are brief notes on the major companies. CURRENT PRODUCTION Breguet Over the years Breguet have been responsible forsome remarkable designs, but have also suffered ill-fortune. The very promising 1001 Taon and 1100 were cancelled. The 761Deux Ponts gave excellent service but did not catch on, and the order for fifteen 765 Saharas was cut to four, leaving the companywith the sub-assemblies for the remainder "on the shelf." But full production has begun at Biarritz for a batch of 75 Alize"s,which are claimed to be the best single-engined anti-submarine aircraft in the world. Against fierce opposition, Breguet havewon the competition for the NATO maritime patrol aircraft with the Rolls-Royce Tyne-powered 1150, and construction of the firstof these has begun. After considerable successes with the 901 glider, a batch of100 Fauvette standard-class single-seaters has been begun, and the Choucas two-seater will fly soon. The S10 stratosphericresearch glider is also nearly complete. It is reported that Bre'guet are to demonstrate a Taon at Paris; and details have been releasedof the 1005, an advanced Taon powered by a Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus 12. One of the most remarkable Brcguet projects yet is theIntegral, of which the 940 prototype has now been flying for The distribution of aircraft companies around France, with the heavy concentration in the Paris area, is illustrated at right. The division of manpower is shown overleaf The dramatic spectacle of the SNECMA Atar Volant during the 1957 Paris Salon may well be followed this year by translation of the C.450 Coleoptere, seen here at Melun-Villaroche some time. At 14,3001b, in zero wind, it can reach 50ft in 210 yd,and should land over 50ft in the same distance. A prototype of the 941 should fly at the end of next year. (Capital, Fr. 1,375m.) Marcel Dassault In most ways this is the most potent of theFrench aircraft companies, run with ruthless efficiency and un- stinted investment in resources and advanced equipment. Massproduction of Ouragans, Mystere 2s, 4s and Super Mysteres, not DASSAULT SFEBM6 LATECOEBE SUD AVIATION • BftEGUET ** AVIATION
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