French Light Civil Aircraft & Helicopter Projects and Prototypes

[Stargazer]

From Ailes 2/1948,
here is a small Info about some light French aircraft,designed by; Blanchet,Chapeau,Bourdin,Sautenet (glider) and Pinoteau.

Let's be more specific. This article is about two aircraft designs by Jean Chapeau: the J.C.2 "Lévrier" [F-PANO] and the (unbuilt) "Cargo". The other designers are only mentioned in passing for working with Chapeau on earlier aircraft, since they were all members of the Aéro-club de Châteauroux, in the Indre district. Here is a more detailed list of their aircraft:

• the (Jean) Blanchet J.B.01 "Chantecler", a 1944 single-seat parasol monoplane with a 17 hp Aubier-Dunne V2D engine [F-WCDE];
• the (Jean) Blanchet J.B.602, a 1946 two-seat low-wing monoplane with a 60 hp Salmson engine [F-WCDL > F-PCDL];
• the (Jean) Chapeau J.C.1 "Lévrier", a 1946 tandem-seat biplane (from which the J.C.2 derived) with a 40 hp, then 60 hp Salmson engine; later on it was reengined with a 65 hp Continental [F-WCDQ > F-PCDQ].
• the Chapeau-Blanchet C.B.10, a side-by-side seating biplane with a 70 hp Minié engine [F-WDVL].
• the Lacroix-(Raymond) Bourdin L.B.7, a 1942 tandem-monoplane aircraft with a 27 hp Saroléa engine [F-WFAO].
• the Lacroix-(Raymond) Bourdin L.B.8 "Microplan", a 1948 tandem-monoplane aircraft with a 24 hp AVA engine (engine and registration — if any — unknown).

The Sautenet glider was apparently only ever half completed. Bourdin went on to build yet another Lacroix-type tandem monoplane, the 1951 L.N.B.11* "Autoplan" (* for Lacroix-Nazaris-Bourdin), an enclosed single-seater with a 65 hp Continental A-65 engine [F-WSSX], while his L.N.B.12 and two-seat L.N.B.13 were abandoned after Dr. De Nazaris met his death aboard the L.N.B.11 (a modernized version of the L.N.B.12, however, would eventually be built by Roland Cuvelier in 1987 as the 2L.12 "Le Manouche").

In 1950, Chapeau and Lévrier founded Indraero in Argenton-sur-Creuse (30 kms south of Châteauroux), which produced several aircraft:

• The Aéro 110, a 1950 tandem-seat open biplane with a 45 hp Salmson 9Adb engine [F-WBBJ > F-BBBJ (n° 01)]; it derived directly from the "Lévrier" prototypes.
• The Aéro 101, a 1951 tandem-seat open biplane with a 75 hp Minié 4DC-32 engine; it was the production version of the Aéro 10. Ten were built, including [F-PBBK (n° 01)], [F-PGIC (n° 3)], [F-PKVT (n° 8)]; an 11th aircraft [F-PGYO > F-AZYN > HB-YAN] exists, possibly built from remains of others.
• The Aéro 101 C was the first prototype above refitted with a 65 hp Continental engine [F-PBBK].
• The Aéro 20, a 1966 two-seat low-wing enclosed monoplane with a 45 hp Salmson 9Adb engine [F-PKXY]; it was modified in 1968 as a single-seat open type, keeping the same engine, and that same year again as a two-seater, but keeping the open cockpit and trading the Salmson for a 90 hp Continental C-90-8.
• The Aéro 30, a 1968 single-seat open biplane with a 45 hp Salmson 9Adb engine [F-PPPA (n° 01)], later refitted with a 65 hp Continental A-65.

I have photos of most of these aircraft in my paper files, but I haven't scanned them yet.

In 1969, Indraéro was one of four companies (along with Centre-Est Aéronautique, Wassmer Aviation and Sitar) to receive advance money from the French state to help with setting up production of three prototypes of the new Fournier RF-8 all-metal motorglider. Indeed, René Fournier was considering Indraéro possible production of its new RF-8 metal type (which the German Sportavia didn't have adequate equipment for). However, the small company didn't have the financial strength to meet the requirements, no production ensued, and apparently the loaned money could not be refunded.

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine1979,

here is a Microjet 200,light jet trainer.

 

[PhR]

From Aviation magazine1979,

here is a Microjet 200,light jet trainer.

Nice air-to-air photo showing two of the three Microjet 200 built by Microturbo.

 

[PhR]

• the Chapeau-Blanchet C.B.10, a side-by-side seating biplane with a 70 hp Minié engine [F-WDVL].

It was exhibited at the Air Show at the Grand Palais in Paris.

 

[PhR]

• the (Jean) Chapeau J.C.1 "Lévrier", a 1946 tandem-seat biplane (from which the J.C.2 derived) with a 40 hp, then 60 hp Salmson engine; later on it was reengined with a 65 hp Continental [F-WCDQ > F-PCDQ].

And the JC.1:

 

[Stargazer]

And the JC.1:

Thanks a lot for all these photos, Philippe.
Still no pictures of the JC.2 "Lévrier" [F-PANO], unfortunately.

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1981,

here is a Corsair aircraft,from Christian Beltran,I think he was from Canada ?.

 

[Stargazer]

here is a Corsair aircraft,from Christian Beltran,I think he was from Canada ?.

No, Beltran was French. The article even specifies that he was a member of the RSA (Réseau du Sport de l'Air), which is the French equivalent to the EAA. The SNJ 02 "Corsair" was his second design, but the only one that he finished. It was a single-seater with two 35 hp JLO engines that flew in 1986 but crashed and was destroyed on its first flight. It was registered F-WYTK / F-PYTK.

 

[hesham]

From TU 52.

From Aviation magazine 1982,

another project for Reims,RA-110,and little known company SAAM,
with its product Osiris

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1982,

One of the attractions at the "static" in Annecy was the presentation of a model of a light twin-seater helicopter (maximum weight: 600 kg, including 180 kg of payload) "registered" F-WENI, currently being studied by students from the National School of Engineers of Saint-Etienne (ENISE).

 

[Stargazer]

From Ailes 3/9/1955,
here is a ultra-light tandem wing aircraft Project,designed by Daniel Robert Bancharelle,his concept looks like G. C. Richard,
and by the way he was a well known pilot.

NO. Not designed by Bancharelle at all. Designed by G.-C. Richard IN RESPONSE to Bancharelle (as explained in the first paragraph).

 

[hesham]

From, Aviation magazine 15-3-1984,

the Erpals JV-03 Courlis light aircraft.

 

[Stargazer]

From, Aviation magazine 15-3-1984,
the Erpals JV-03 Courlis light aircraft.

The Courlis was actually completed and flown in 1985. It carried the registration F-WALS (c/n 01).

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 15-6-1984,

what was this ATL (Lib'Air) aircraft ?.

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1-3-1985,

the ULM Phalene

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1-2-1985,

Lilipuce aircraft.