Marcel Desoutter
Encyclopedia
André Marcel Desoutter was an English aviator
, who lost a leg in an early flying accident, but went on to a successful career in the aviation industry.
, and Philomène Duret. Along with his four brothers, Rene, Charles, Louis and Robert, Marcel trained as a watchmaker.
at their Hendon
works, he passed the flying tests at the age of 17, but could not receive his licence until he was 18, receiving Royal Aero Club
Aviators' Certificate no. 186 on 27 February 1912. He became an instructor, test and demonstration pilot.
Desoutter's accident occurred at the London Aviation Meeting held at Hendon Aerodrome at Easter 1913: whilst flying his 50-h.p. Gnome
-Blériot
on the afternoon of 23 March, the control stick slipped from his hand and the Blériot dived into the ground at the edge of the aerodrome. Desoutter's leg was badly broken, and later had to be amputated above the knee.
He was fitted with the standard wooden leg, but his younger brother Charles used his knowledge of aircraft materials to design a new jointed Duralumin
alloy leg of half the weight, with which he was able to return to flying.
In 1914 the pair formed a company, Desoutter Brothers Limited, at 73 Baker Street, London
, to manufacture the legs. The firm expanded greatly during and after the First World War, and moved to The Hyde, Hendon in 1924, where they manufactured both artificial limbs and the pneumatic portable power tool
s which had been developed initially as a sideline.
Marcel married Margaret F. Rust in 1918; they had three children.
Marcel Desoutter left the business in 1928 and formed the Desoutter Aircraft Company
Ltd. at Croydon
to build the Dutch Koolhoven F.K.41 three-seat monoplane, renaming it as the Desoutter I.
41 of this type and the improved Desoutter II
were produced, but the business folded in 1932 after its main customer, National Flying Services at London Air Park, Hanworth
, went into liquidation.
In 1935 Desoutter became a partner with Morris Jackaman in Airports, Ltd., which had been set up to develop Gatwick
and Gravesend
aerodromes as airports, and was still managing director of the company when he died at his home in Horley
, Surrey on 13 April 1952.
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, who lost a leg in an early flying accident, but went on to a successful career in the aviation industry.
Early life
Desoutter was one of six children of Louis Albert Desoutter, an immigrant French watchmakerWatchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
, and Philomène Duret. Along with his four brothers, Rene, Charles, Louis and Robert, Marcel trained as a watchmaker.
Aviation career
Learning to fly with the Blériot CompanyBlériot Aéronautique
Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few cyclecars from 1921 to 1922.After Louis Blériot became famous for being the first to fly over the English Channel in 1909, he established an aircraft manufacturing company. This company really took...
at their Hendon
Hendon Aerodrome
Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in Hendon, north London, England that, between 1908 and 1968, was an important centre for aviation.It was situated in Colindale, seven miles north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became "the Charing Cross of the UK's international air routes", but for the...
works, he passed the flying tests at the age of 17, but could not receive his licence until he was 18, receiving Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
Aviators' Certificate no. 186 on 27 February 1912. He became an instructor, test and demonstration pilot.
Desoutter's accident occurred at the London Aviation Meeting held at Hendon Aerodrome at Easter 1913: whilst flying his 50-h.p. Gnome
Gnome et Rhône
Gnome et Rhône was a major French aircraft engine manufacturer. Between 1914 and 1918 they produced 25,000 of their 9-cylinder Delta and Le Rhône 110 hp rotary designs, while another 75,000 were produced by various licensees, powering the majority of aircraft in the first half of the war on...
-Blériot
Blériot XI
The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...
on the afternoon of 23 March, the control stick slipped from his hand and the Blériot dived into the ground at the edge of the aerodrome. Desoutter's leg was badly broken, and later had to be amputated above the knee.
He was fitted with the standard wooden leg, but his younger brother Charles used his knowledge of aircraft materials to design a new jointed Duralumin
Duralumin
Duralumin is the trade name of one of the earliest types of age-hardenable aluminium alloys. The main alloying constituents are copper, manganese, and magnesium. A commonly used modern equivalent of this alloy type is AA2024, which contains 4.4% copper, 1.5% magnesium, 0.6% manganese and 93.5%...
alloy leg of half the weight, with which he was able to return to flying.
In 1914 the pair formed a company, Desoutter Brothers Limited, at 73 Baker Street, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to manufacture the legs. The firm expanded greatly during and after the First World War, and moved to The Hyde, Hendon in 1924, where they manufactured both artificial limbs and the pneumatic portable power tool
Power tool
A power tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labour used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used...
s which had been developed initially as a sideline.
Marcel married Margaret F. Rust in 1918; they had three children.
Marcel Desoutter left the business in 1928 and formed the Desoutter Aircraft Company
Desoutter Aircraft Company
The Desoutter Aircraft Company was a British aircraft manufacturer based in Croydon. It was founded by Marcel Desoutter and produced aircraft during the late 1920s and the 1930s.-History:...
Ltd. at Croydon
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
to build the Dutch Koolhoven F.K.41 three-seat monoplane, renaming it as the Desoutter I.
41 of this type and the improved Desoutter II
Desoutter Mk.II
-Bibliography:* Kalevi Keskinen, Kari Stenman: Koulukoneet - Suomen ilmavoimien historia 22, Itä-Uudenmaan paino, Loviisa, 2003, ISBN 951-98751-5-8* Tervonen, Ismo: Veljekset Karhumäki Suomen ilmailun pioneereina 1924-1956, Apali Oy, ISBN 952-5026-25-6....
were produced, but the business folded in 1932 after its main customer, National Flying Services at London Air Park, Hanworth
London Air Park
London Air Park, also known as Hanworth Air Park, was a grass airfield, operational 1917-1919 and 1929-1947. It was situated on the southeastern edge of Feltham, now part of the London Borough of Hounslow...
, went into liquidation.
In 1935 Desoutter became a partner with Morris Jackaman in Airports, Ltd., which had been set up to develop Gatwick
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
and Gravesend
Gravesend Airport
Gravesend Airport, located to the east of the town of Gravesend, Kent, England operated from 1932 until 1956. It was initially a civil airfield, and became a Royal Air Force station shortly after opening.-Civil operation:...
aerodromes as airports, and was still managing director of the company when he died at his home in Horley
Horley
Horley is a town in Surrey, England, situated south of the twin towns of Reigate and Redhill, and north of Gatwick Airport and Crawley.With fast links by train to London from Horley railway station, it has grown popular with commuters in recent years...
, Surrey on 13 April 1952.