In 1940, the successor to the Dewoitine D.520 was put under development, the SE.580. Its development took place in secret during the Occupation of France. At the end of 1944, two prototypes of the SE.580 were ordered. The main feature of the SE.580 was a large air intake just behind the cockpit.

A Nord 1101 ‘Noralpha / Ramier I’ landing. This is the French version of the Messerschmitt Me 208, built after the war by Nord-Aviation. This new family of aircraft, which included several variants, was very popular in France at the time. © Karsten Palt

The wonders of France by Dassault. A "Rafale" and a "Mirage" 2000 at Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur air base. © L. Marin

The D.342 was the last transport aircraft produced by the manufacturer Dewoitine. It had a more modern fuselage than its predecessors, the D.338, as well as a maximum speed of nearly 400 km/h. It made its maiden flight in 1938 and was operated by "Air France" during the WWII.

With a somewhat modern livery like that of "Catair", it's easy to forget that the Caravelle is a 1950s aircraft. she looks so modern, even by today's standards. © Michel Gilliand

The Potez 566 was a three-seater observation aircraft from 1938 based on the Potez 56 civil aircraft. Only three examples of the 566 were ever built. © British Pathé

In 1992, the Winter Olympics were held in Albertville, France. To ensure security, Mirage 2000B aircraft patrolled the mountains with special Albertville Olympic Games livery under their wings. © Images Défense

A Potez 62 because it's beautiful, it looks a bit like a flying fish. This lovely aircraft, first flown in 1935, was operated by Air France during the 1930s. Military variants were also produced for troop parachuting.

The Bloch MB.160 was a fourteen-seat airliner that made its maiden flight in 1937. Three were built, and two were put into service by Air-Afrique. It served as the basis for the development of the SNCASE SE.161 ‘Languedoc’, of which around a hundred were built after the war.

Take-off of a Potez 63-11 at the beginning of WWII. It was a three-seater aircraft designed for reconnaissance, with 723 units produced. © Images défense

Public presentation of the two experimental ‘Leduc 021’ ramjet aircraft and their ‘Languedoc’ aircraft at the 1955 Paris Air Show.

The 1939 Potez 670, (later renamed 671), was a three-seat fighter derived from the Potez 630. The fuselage was identical, but the wings, engine and nacelles had been redesigned. Performance was satisfactory and an order for 40 aircraft was placed, but the 1940 armistice put an end to the project.

The SO.9000 ‘Trident I’ from 1953 was a prototype interceptor powered by two jet engines at the wing tips and a rocket engine at the rear of the fuselage. In 1955, it reached Mach 1.63. It served as the basis for more powerful versions such as the Trident II and III.

The SUC-10 ‘Courlis’ was a relatively modern-looking tourist aircraft from 1946 with a pusher configuration. It was equipped with a ‘Mathis’ G-8R engine, which was withdrawn from certification due to faults, preventing the aircraft from being marketed despite the production of 144 airframes.

The Fauvel AV-36 was a single-seat flying wing glider from the 1950s. It is not a true flying wing as it has two fins behind the trailing edge. Here is a version modified by Emile Gouverne, equipped with an engine and a completely redesigned cockpit.

The second prototype of the SE-210 ‘Caravelle’ in the late 1950s, painted in Air France colours. A work of art ! © Marlène Aviation

Today marks 60 years since France became the third space power by launching the A-1 Astérix satellite on 26 November 1965. Here is the launch with the ‘Diamant A’ rocket. © CNES / Images Défense

Today marks 60 years since France became the third space power by launching the A-1 Astérix satellite on 26 November 1965... So happy anniversary to

A ‘Vautour’ II.N, the all-weather fighter variant of the twin-engine SO.4050 ‘Vautour’, here in the colours of Normandie-Niemen. © Collection Jean-Paul Barillot

The Dassault ‘Flamant’ was a military liaison and training aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation in the late 1940s. With 325 units produced, it remained in service with the French Air Force until 1983 and was the first aircraft produced by Marcel Bloch under the name Dassault. © Dassault

The 1952 Dassault MD.316T was a prototype light transport aircraft, a modernised version of the MD.315 ‘Flamant’. It was not mass-produced due to a lack of interest from airlines. It was subsequently envisaged for production as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, but this did not come to fruition.

‘Diamant A’, the first European space launcher, made its maiden flight in 1965, placing the A-1 ‘Astérix’ satellite into orbit.

Although popularised by the British "Vickers Wellington" bomber, the geodesic construction technique was first used on an aircraft in the early 1920s with the Latécoère Laté-6, an all-metal bomber.

In France, we love Delta wings for many reasons. Here are two of them: Air France "Concorde" and an RAAF "Mirage III" flying close together.

Some beautiful French bombers: Amiot 351 LeO 451 Vautour II Mirage IV

Following the occupation of France by Germany during WWII, the Free French Air Force (FAFL) opened aviation schools in North Africa. Here in 1945, a bomber school equipped with LeO-451s whose fuselages had been sanded down by the desert sand, revealing the fuselage aluminium © Images défense

Like the sketch of a masterpiece. The wooden model of the Latécoère 631 in the late 1930s, used to visualise the layout of the giant flying boat. Despite its undeniable elegance, the commercial operation of the Laté 631 was marred by accidents.

The LeO H-13 is a commercial biplane flying boat that first flew in July 1922. From 1923 onwards, 23 LeO H-13A passenger aircraft were built. Several military variants were developed: the LeO H-13B-3 reconnaissance bomber and the LeO H-13E trainer. © Elisabeth Basset-Terrusse & Claude Antonini.

The fabulous aircraft from Dassault in the late 1950s.

The 1936 Lioré et Olivier LeO H-47 was a flying boat designed to carry passengers and mail, but when the Second World War broke out, this type of aircraft was converted for use as a maritime patrol and liaison aircraft. © Olivier Beerneart

I know the SNCASO SO.4000 "Vautour I" prototype bomber from 1951 was a bit of a dud, but despite its strange appearance on the ground with its disproportionate landing gear, I really like it... Seriously, look at it!

The Dassault 'Falcon' 20G, known in the USA as the HU-25C 'Guardian', is a French business jet that has enjoyed worldwide success. It has been used by NASA since 2011 to provide a medium-altitude, medium-range platform for remote sensing instruments and satellite support © NASA

Mr Leduc's beautiful silver bird, the 010. Excerpt from the cover of Aviation Magazine No. 27, 1951.

In 1911, French engineer Denhaut began construction of a hull seaplane, the first in history, with a very important innovation: the step, which facilitates the aircraft's take-off. The aircraft was mass-produced thanks to the partnership between Donnet and Lévêque.

A "Dragon Rapide" operated by Air France.

First prototype of the ‘Voltigeur’ from 1958, a three-seater anti-guerrilla warfare aircraft. The 2nd prototype, no longer equipped with a piston engine but with 2 Turboméca “Bastan” engines, broke up in flight during its seventh flight on 9 January 1959, killing its entire crew.

The NC.860 and its somewhat unusual architecture. It was a prototype light multi-role aircraft. Only one was built, and it made its maiden flight on 29 July 1949.

Nord 1402 "Gerfaut" was an experimental aircraft, one of the very first french delta-wing aircraft in 1954. On 3 August, piloted by André Turcat, it became one of the first European aircraft to break the sound barrier in horizontal flight, without even using afterburners. Illustration by Jean Masse.

There are 1,000 of you following this account (1,001 to be precise). Thank you to the old followers whom I am delighted to see again on BlueSky, and thank you to the new who are curious to join us! To mark this nice round number, here is the Breguet Br.1001 Taon, a light fighter aircraft from 1957.

My favourite mail plane. Yes, I did say mail plane. Here is the Leduc 016 converted into the 010-03 at the Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget

🚀 Appel à la communauté ! L’association Ailes Anciennes Toulouse recherche des pièces pour son Breguet Alizé :

To validate the design of the "Mirage IIIV" VTOL fighter, a demonstrator named Balzac V was built in 1962. It was equipped with innovations such as Dassault's first electric flight controls and the use of telemetry to communicate flight data in real time with the ground.

The Dewoitine D.620 was a prototype airliner from the 1930s developed in parallel with the smaller D.338. The only prototype built did not go into mass production due to its poor flight characteristics, in addition to the fact that Air France was fully satisfied with its D.338s.

The Morane-Saulnier MS-1500 ‘Epervier’ from 1958 was a prototype ground attack aircraft. In the cockpit, the observer sat in front and the pilot sat behind, in a slightly raised seat. This configuration gave both crew members excellent visibility for their respective tasks.

First version of the SO.6020 ‘Espadon’ from 1948, the first prototype of a French jet fighter aircraft. The aircraft was manoeuvrable but too heavy and underpowered, and never entered service, with the Dassault Ouragan being preferred instead.

I didn't know this existed, but there are film archives of the test of the Riout 120T ‘Alerion’, an experimental ornithopter from 1937. Following wind tunnel tests, the wings broke and the project was abandoned. © ONERA

The "CT.10" was a post-war French target drone, based on the German V1 with a slightly different architecture and dimensions. Over 400 units were produced and used by France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden.

First public presentation of the HM-14 "Pou du Ciel" in flight in 1934 at Orly. A presentation of new light and economical aircraft had been organised there. Mignet gave a masterful 15-minute demonstration of his aircraft in flight.

Loading luggage and postal cargo into the nose of the Dewoitine D.338 three-engine aircraft in 1942. © Images défense

Two Latécoère 298 torpedo bombers, ready for flight in the late 1930s.