Rémy Gaucher Aircraft Designations

[Apophenia]

Rémy Gaucher Aircraft Designations

I've been trying - with limited success - to untangle some of the online information about Rémy Gaucher and his aircraft designs. At times, his designs are listed as 'Rémy-Gaucher' types (Rémy-Gaucher apparently being a fairly common hyphened surname). In a 15 Oct 1955 article in Les Ailes - Le Gaucher "Club-221" a Moteur Continental - he is consistently named as 'Roger Gaucher'.

-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/roger-gaucher-club-221-pusher-monoplane-project.31740/

Rémy Gaucher has been described as an amateur constructor who prepared designs for other amateurs. 'Avions Gaucher' seems to be a generic grouping term applied to Gaucher's design work rather than a former organization. However, to facilitate his activities, Gaucher did establish a number of marketing or small workshop entitities. In 1935, he formed Les avions légers économiques R. Gaucher to produce and promote his RG 40 light cabin monoplane design. Then, in 1938, Gaucher joined the then-newly formed SECAT (Société d'Etude et de Construction d'Avions de Tourisme) in Boulogne.

Later in 1938 or 1939, [1] Gaucher established a workshop at Jurançon in SW France. [2] His goal was to build demonstrator prototypes to promote plans sales to amateur-builders for a new lightplane. The unrealized design was called Suda-Pocket based on his workshop name - Sud Aviation (I hope that Gaucher trademarked that name!). Four 'Sud' designs were being constructed when WW2 brought work to an end. [3]

In the immediate postwar period, Gaucher established Plénair-Aviation to develop a Zlin Persey-powered prototype of the P.A.47 (then often just referred to as the 'Plénair'. Plénair-Aviation was probably also intended to develop the Week-End 48 derivative (possibly designated 'P.A.48'). The Week-End 48 wasn't built and the lower-powered P.A.47 would be built by Roland Payen's firm, Société Aéro-Routière de la Loire, as the Pa.47 Weekend. Plénair-Aviation then disappears. After that, Rémy Gaucher seems to have operated strictly as a freelance aircraft designer (and occasional collaborator with others).

Beyond Rémy Gaucher's aviation activities, I have been unable to uncover much biographical information. It seems that he originated in Belgium (Gaucher's first two designs were done in Belgium and at least two of his postwar projects were intended for Belgian partners or investors). Gaucher moved to France in 1933 to continue his design work. Beyond that, 'Rémy Gaucher' being a rather common French name has thwarted me.

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[1] 1938, according to 'Tophe' Meunier in his revised Fantômes fourchus, page 24.

[2] Jurançon commune (municipality) must be fairly obscure, even in France. Some sources (mis)place the Sud Aviation workshop in the larger, nearby commune of Idron. Others give Pau, the capital of Pyrénées-Atlantiques Département (sometimes just listed as the 'capital' of the traditional province of Béarn!)

[3] There was an improbable suggestion in Le Gaucher "Club-221" a Moteur Continental that the Sud Aviation Sudob photo-observation prototype meant for the Artillerie was actually completed and taken on by the Ministère de la Guerre. This seems highly doubtful. That same article later claims that all four Sud Aviation prototypes underway were destroyed during the war.

 

[Apophenia]

Rémy Gaucher Named Designs - Undesignated or Unknown Designations

Rémy Gaucher

(??) - 1931(?) side-by-side 2-seat light a/c
- (??): 1 x 35 hp (type?), span (??) m
-- Design begun in Belgium, no other details
-- Uncertain of whether built or project

(??) - 1932 'Airplan' 2-seat light a/c
- (??): 1 x 35 hp (type?), span (??) m
-- Design begun in Belgium, no other details
-- Uncertain of whether built or project

Rally - (Project) 1935 3-seat light twin
- Rally: 2 x 40 hp AVA 4A-02, span (??) m
-- HO4 engines slung under wings to the sides
-- No other details known (incl. layout)

Baby RG - 1937 2-seat light aircraft
- Baby RG: 1 x 40 hp AVA 4A-02, span (??) m
-- No other details known (incl. layout)
-- Build suggested but possibly just a project

Sud Aviation, Jurançon (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)

Sudastra - (Project) 1939 light trainer
- Sudastra: Tandem two-seat monoplane
- Sudastra: 1 x 70 hp Minié 4.DC.32 HO4, span (??) m

Sudapocket - (Project) 1939 light sport a/c
- Sudapocket: Single-seat 'economique'
- Sudapocket: 1 x 40 hp Hochet HO2,* span (??) m
- Sudapocket: Shoulder-wing monoplane, fixed u/c
-- * 1.9 LPoinsard HO2 by GHM (Genete-Hochet-Mengin)
-- * Alt. ~30 hp AVA or 40 hp Centaure 3 cyl.**
-- ** Centaure was an orig. Gaucher design

Sudasport - (Project) 1939 light aircraft
- Sudasport: 2-seater, mid-set monoplane
- Sudasport: 1 x 95 hp Salmson, span (??) m

Sudob - (Project) 1939 photo-recce a/c
- Sudob: 2-seat, twin-boomed fuselage
- Sudob: 1 x 90 hp Polymécanique 7-cyl. radial
-- If the same twin-boomer, span would be 12.00 m
-- Sudob, contraction of 'Sud Observation'
-- Photo-observation a/c intended for Artillerie

(??) - (Project) 2-seat twin-boomed light a/c
- (??): Side-by-side seats, wood constr., trike u/c
- (??): 1 x 85 hp Salmson 5Ap pusher, span 12.00 m
-- Likely the same design as the 1939 Sudob

Designs conceived between 1946 and 1954

Palma (Project) Motor glider study for Belgium
- Palma: 1 x 22 hp Walter Atom HO2, span (??) m

Micro-Avion (Project) Sports a/c study for Belgium
- Palma: 1 x 22-to-65 hp engine, * span (??) m
-- * Likely the 22 hp Walter Atom HO2 again

Week-End 48 (Project) Low-wing 2-seat light a/c
- Week-End 48: 1 x 65 hp Continental A-65, span (??) m
-- Presumably a higher-powered P.A.47 Weekend
-- Possibly designated P.A.48 for Plénair-Aviation

Design conceived circa 1955

Club 221 - (Project) 1955 mid-winged pusher light a/c
- Club 221: 2-seat pod-and-boom, fixed tricycle u/c
- Club 221: 1 x 65 hp Continental A-65 HO4, span 9.00 m
-- Pre-fab kit: welded steel fuselage, wooden tailboom
-- For workshop of Groupement Aéronautique de Bois-Colombes

_________________________________________________________________________

Rémy Gaucher Designs - Anomolous Aircraft Designations

type 12 - (Project) 'Douze Heures d'Angers' a/c
- type 12: Single-seat low-wing monoplane*
- type 12: 1 x 45 hp Minié HO4,** span 6.60 m
-- * Strut-braced wing, fabric-covered wood constr.
-- type 12 for coefficient of 12, poss 'RG 12'
-- ** 27-to-60 hp (Train 6T or Potez 3B) considered

W.E.47 - 1935 low-wing light cabin monoplane
- W.E.47: Presented as a Jouet Ancien Maquette
-- Model: https://www.binetruy.org/typo3temp/pics/f23c685cfe.jpg
- W.E.47: Side-by-side 2-seater with canopy
- W.E.47: 1 x (??), span (??) m
- W.E.47: Slightly tapered wing, fixed u/c
-- Becomes Payen-Aviation Pa.47 Weekend

X.50 - (Project) Alt. desig. for Rémicopter RG 58
- X.50 Poss. 'RG 50', no evidence for this claim

602 - (Project) Alt. desig. for Rémicopter RG 58
- 602: Poss. 'RG 602', no evidence for this claim

 

[Apophenia]

Rémy Gaucher 'RG' Aircraft Designations

Les avions légers économiques R. Gaucher

RG 40 - 1935 Week-End high-wing cabin tourer
- RG 40: 2-seat side-by-side cantilever monoplane
-- Wood constr., raked windscreen, fixed u/c
- RG 40: 1 x var. low-power tractors, span 9.00 m
- RG 40: Designed along with ing (?) Audoire
- RG 40: (Planned) 1 x 35 hp AVA 4A-02 HO4 engine
- RG 40: 1935 1st prototype, 1 x 26 hp AVA 4A-00
- RG 40: 1936 2rd prototype, 1 x 35 hp AVA 4A-02
-- https://www.aviafrance.com/image.php?im=10137
- RG 40T: 1936 3rd prototype, 40 hp Train 4T 4-cyl.
-- https://www.aviafrance.com/image.php?im=10257
-- Les Ailes (15 Oct 1955) mentions 2 x engines:
-- 60 hp Train (a 6T?) followed by 70 hp Potez*
-- * Probably a 70 hp Potez-Anzani 3B reference
-- RG 40 prototypes built by Berthier, Ponthierry
- RG 45: 1938 Club, RG 40 development, x 1
- RG 45: 1 x 40 hp Zlin Persy II HO4, span 9.80 m
-- Gérard RG 45 prototype built by André Gérard
-- aka Gaucher RG 45, Gérard-Gaucher 45, Gérard Club-45

W.E.47 - 1935 low-wing light cabin monoplane
- W.E.47: Lone online ref. to an a/c model*
-- * Presented as a Jouet Ancien Maquette
-- Model: https://www.binetruy.org/typo3temp/pics/f23c685cfe.jpg
- W.E.47: Side-by-side 2-seater with canopy
- W.E.47: 1 x (??), span (??) m
- W.E.47: Slightly tapered wing, fixed u/c
-- No other evidence of being real project

Plénair-Aviation

P.A.47 - 1947 high-wing light cabin monoplane
- P.A.47: Side-by-side 2-seater, braced wing
- P.A.47: (1946) 1 x 50 hp Zlin Persy II HO4
-- Becomes Payen-Aviation Pa.47 Weekend*
-- Pa.47 : 65 hp Continental A-65, span 9.40 m
-- Prototype certified June 1957, no prod'n
-- Experimental Fr. reg. F-WFKY, later F-PFKY
-- aka Pa.47/1, Pa.47/01, or Pa.470 Plénair Air
-- 3v: http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/la/pa47fr/pa47fr-1.gif
-- NB: Fr. license for Persy held by Payen*
-- * Then as Société Aéro-Routière de la Loire
-- A range of Payen variants were also planned:
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/postwar-payen-projects.15906/page-2#post-248314

P.A.48 - (??) hypothetical desig. for Week-End 48
- Week-End 48: (Project) Low-wing 2-seat light a/c
- Week-End 48: 1 x 65 hp Continental A-65, span (??) m
-- Presumably a higher-powered P.A.47 Weekend
-- Possibly designated P.A.48 for Plénair-Aviation

Rémi Gaucher (for the Société Reverchon)

RG 50 - (??) hypothetical designation
-- See X.50/Rémicopter RG 58 (I)

RG 58 - (Project) 1957 Rémicopter light helicopter
- RG 58: aka R Gaucher 58, Rémicopter variants
- Design by Rémi Gaucher, built by Société Reverchon
- RG 58 (I) : Contra-rotating rotors, piston-engined
- RG 58 (I) : 90 hp Continental C-90, rotor diam. 7.50 m
- RG 58 (I) : 2-seat pod, boom, no tail rotor, skids
- RG 58 (II): Pulse-jet, 2 x variations, prototype & prod.
- RG 58 (II) prototype: Open-frame, single-seat
- RG 58 (II) prototype: Contra-rotating rotors
- RG 58 (II) prod.: Single-rotor, retr. tricycle u/c
- RG 58 (II) prod.: SNECMA pulsejet,* rotor diam. (??) m
- RG 58 (II) prod.: 2-seat pod fuselage, no tail surface
-- * SNECMA Escopette 3340 pulsoreactor, or
-- * SNECMA Écrevisse AP503 pulsoreactor (AS-11)
-- aka Rémicopter RG 58, aka Rémicopter X.50**
-- aka Rémicopter 602,**8 aka 'Rémicoptère'
-- ** X.50 may be RG 58 (I) designation
-- *** 602 may be RG 58 (II) designation
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/gaucher-remicopter.1293/

SECAT (Société d'Etude et de Construction d'Avions de Tourisme) [1]

RG 60 - 1938 high-wing cabin a/c built by SECAT
- SECAT 60T: Side-by-side 2-seater monoplane*
- SECAT 60T: 60 hp Train 6T inline, span 9.00 m
- SECAT 60T: Ply-covered wood-constr., fixed u/c
-- * Semi-eliptical, one-piece cantilever wing
-- aka SECAT-VI, 'La Mouette' ('Seagull')
-- aka SECAT S 4 (postwar ref. to 60T/-VI)
-- NB: 6 x 60T begun, poss. only 3 x finished
-- Led to postwar SECAT S 5 & SECAT RG 75
-- S 5: 1946 increased-powerf S 4 devel.** x 1
-- * S 5 distinquished by its split windscreen
-- S 5: 1 x 70-75 hp Régnier 4D.2, span 9.00 m

RG 70 - (Project) 194? parasol light school a/c
- RG 70: 2-seat tandem, eclipsed by RG 75 (?)
- RG 70: 1 x 75 hp Minié 4.DC.32 HO4, span (??) m
-- Construction poss. commenced but not finished

RG 75 - 1947 high-wing cabin a/c built by SECAT
-- RG 75: Enlarged, longer-span SECAT S 5, x 2
-- RG 75: 1 x 75 hp Régnier 4D.2, span 10.00 m
-- RG 75s F-WBBX and F-WBBT,* aka SECAT 75T
-- * Pre-CoA reg. probably assigned in 1946
-- Claude Payen hoped to later finish RG 75**
-- Payen intended to employ a Continental HO4

Rémi Gaucher (for the Société Reverchon)

xx 602 - See Rémicopter RG 58 (II)

Gaucher-Alajouanine 'GA' Designation [2]

GA 620 - 1963 Gaucho aerobatic trainer
- GA 620 : 2-seat tandem, low-wing monoplane
- GA 620 : 1 x , span (??) m
-- GA 620 intended as AdA Stampe replacement
-- F-PKXH, aka Gaucher GA-620 Gaucho
-- Up against Morane-Saulnier M.S. 563, etc.
- GA 620P:
-- https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1046588
-- 3v: http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/3vues/gaucho_3v.jpg

Rémi Gaucher

RG 6xx - (Project) Aeriel Junior light aircraft
- Aeriel Junior: High wing, fixed tailgragger
- Aeriel Junior: 1 x 25-to-45 hp, span (??) m
-- Circa 1968, single-seat under cantilever wing

RG 641 Rodéo 1-2-seat low-wing light a/c
- RG 641: Geodesic constr. wing, span 7.00 m
- RG 641 (I) : Single-seat, fixed 'taildragger'
- RG 641 (I) : 1 x 65 hp Continental A-65 HO4
- RG 641 (II): Side-by-side seating, fixed trike
- RG 641 (II): 1 x 90 hp Continental C-90 HO4
-- Circa 1968
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/rémy-gaucher-prototypes-projects.33346

TRG-662 - (Project) 19(??) tandem 2-seat light a/c
- TRG-662: 1 x (??), span (??) m
-- Led to student-built AM-69 Georges Payre
-- F-PTXB, aka Arts & Métiers AM-69, ENAM-69/70
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[1] Boulogne-based SECAT also given as Société d'Etudes et de Construction d'Avions de Tourisme).

[2] The GA 620 was a joint project between Rémy Gaucher and aerobatics enthusiast and former Resistance fighter, Guy Alajouanine (1924-1976).
__________________________________________________________________

Does anyone have more on Rémy Gaucher, his aircraft, or his designations?

 

[hesham]

Very great work as usual my dear Apophenia,from TU 207,

and I can add those two airplanes,Rally & Baby RG.

 

[Apophenia]

Excellent stuff, thanks hesham! So that article confirms Tophe's 1938 date for the establishment of Sud Aviation ... and describes its location accurately for a change

Very interesting that the list of Sud Aviation activities eliminates the Sudob twin-boom 'photo-observation' aircraft. That Les Ailes article you posted - Le Gaucher "Club-221" a Moteur Continental - suggested that it was the Sudob which had advanced the most (due to military interest). Curious ...

I had come across the 'Baby RG' before but, since it seems to have been built, I assumed it to be another name for the RG 40 Week-End. The engine is right but the 'Baby RG' layout description is vague. The kicker is that date of 1937. That's two years too late to be any of the RG 40 prototypes. Nor could it be the RG 45 (wrong engine type). So, yeah, the 'Baby RG' needed its own listing and has been added.

The twin-engined 'Rally' is totally new to me. So, that's been added too. And another previously 'unknown' desperately wanting an RG designation found Thanks for this!

BTW: I've corrected an error which accidentally slid the original 1946 concept for the P.A.47 into the prewar RB 40 listing

 

[hesham]

OK my dear Apophenia,

and here is all I know.

 

[Apophenia]

Thanks hesham. I note that Avions Gérard is mentioned there as being located at "Pau-Idron" (which are actually 6 km apart). Maybe the Gérard-Gaucher connection is origin of some of the journalistic confusion over Sud Aviation's Jurançon location (3 km SW of Pau)?

 

[avion ancien]

A sketch of the Gaucher Suda-pocket project, which appeared in Les Ailes of 19 January 1939.