Sud Aviation
Encyclopedia
Sud-Aviation was a French
state-owned aircraft manufacturer, originating from the merger of Sud-Est (SNCASE, or Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du sud-est) and Sud-Ouest (SNCASO or Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du sud-ouest) on March 1, 1957. Both companies had themselves been formed from smaller privately owned corporations that had been nationalized into six regional design and manufacturing pools just prior to World War II
.
Sud-Est built a line of aircraft including a passenger airliner, the Languedoc
, the Alouette series
of helicopters, and a fighter
, the Mistral. The Mistral was a British De Havilland
Vampire
built under license.
Looking to break out of their limited licensing-based market, in 1951 Sud-Est started the design of a new jet-powered airliner which would eventually evolve into the Caravelle
. This aircraft used Rolls-Royce Avon
turbojets and the nose and cockpit design were from the De Havilland Comet
, but was otherwise a new design. One pioneering feature was the mounting of the engines at the rear fuselage, thereby reducing cabin noise. Production started in 1958, by which time the market-leading Comet had suffered a series of in-air breakups and had been withdrawn from service. The Caravelle did not suffer this design flaw and thus remained the only production jet design in the mid-range market until the launch of the Douglas DC-9, securing a very successful career with sales all over Europe and even a run of 20 in the United States. General Electric
turbofans and Pratt & Whitney JT8Ds were used to power later variants, from the GE-powered Caravelle 7, to the longer, short-range Caravelle 12. The Caravelle was by then generally considered as the first successful jetliner.
At this point the merger with Sud-Ouest occurred to form Sud Aviation. The new firm then started on the design of a supersonic transport
version of the Caravelle, known as the Super-Caravelle
. However, the projected cost of the project was so high that Sud Aviation, at the direction of the French and British governments, formed a consortium with BAC
in November 1962 to merge their design and production efforts to create the Concorde
.
Sud-Aviation had a significant involvement in May 1968, as it was one of the first major factories to be occupied
.
Sud Aviation merged with Nord Aviation
in 1970 to form the Aérospatiale
company. Aérospatiale formed several large-scale international consortia, for example with British Aerospace
and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm
to form Airbus
, and ultimately merged into European aerospace company EADS
in 2000.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
state-owned aircraft manufacturer, originating from the merger of Sud-Est (SNCASE, or Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du sud-est) and Sud-Ouest (SNCASO or Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du sud-ouest) on March 1, 1957. Both companies had themselves been formed from smaller privately owned corporations that had been nationalized into six regional design and manufacturing pools just prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Sud-Est built a line of aircraft including a passenger airliner, the Languedoc
Sud-Est Languedoc
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Chillon J., J-P Dubois and J.Wegg. French Postwar Transport Aircraft. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain Limited. 1980. ISBN 978-0-85130-078-8.* Munson, Kenneth...
, the Alouette series
Aérospatiale Alouette
The Aérospatiale Alouette is a family of light helicopters manufactured by SNCASE, Sud Aviation, and Aérospatiale:* SNCASE Alouette - company designation SE.3120; piston-engined, not directly related to the Alouette II....
of helicopters, and a fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
, the Mistral. The Mistral was a British De Havilland
De Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
built under license.
Looking to break out of their limited licensing-based market, in 1951 Sud-Est started the design of a new jet-powered airliner which would eventually evolve into the Caravelle
Sud Aviation Caravelle
The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
. This aircraft used Rolls-Royce Avon
Rolls-Royce Avon
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:**** a 1955 Flight article on the development of the Avon...
turbojets and the nose and cockpit design were from the De Havilland Comet
De Havilland Comet
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
, but was otherwise a new design. One pioneering feature was the mounting of the engines at the rear fuselage, thereby reducing cabin noise. Production started in 1958, by which time the market-leading Comet had suffered a series of in-air breakups and had been withdrawn from service. The Caravelle did not suffer this design flaw and thus remained the only production jet design in the mid-range market until the launch of the Douglas DC-9, securing a very successful career with sales all over Europe and even a run of 20 in the United States. General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
turbofans and Pratt & Whitney JT8Ds were used to power later variants, from the GE-powered Caravelle 7, to the longer, short-range Caravelle 12. The Caravelle was by then generally considered as the first successful jetliner.
At this point the merger with Sud-Ouest occurred to form Sud Aviation. The new firm then started on the design of a supersonic transport
Supersonic transport
A supersonic transport is a civilian supersonic aircraft designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The only SSTs to see regular service to date have been Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. The last passenger flight of the Tu-144 was in June 1978 with its last ever...
version of the Caravelle, known as the Super-Caravelle
Sud Aviation Super-Caravelle
The Sud Aviation Super-Caravelle was an early design for a supersonic transport. Unlike most competing designs which envisioned larger trans-Atlantic aircraft and led to the likes of the Boeing 2707, the Super-Caravelle was a much smaller, shorter range design intended to replace their earlier and...
. However, the projected cost of the project was so high that Sud Aviation, at the direction of the French and British governments, formed a consortium with BAC
British Aircraft Corporation
The British Aircraft Corporation was a British aircraft manufacturer formed from the government-pressured merger of English Electric Aviation Ltd., Vickers-Armstrongs , the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Hunting Aircraft in 1960. Bristol, English Electric and Vickers became "parents" of BAC with...
in November 1962 to merge their design and production efforts to create the Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
.
Sud-Aviation had a significant involvement in May 1968, as it was one of the first major factories to be occupied
Occupation of factories
Occupation of factories is a method of the workers' movement used to prevent lock outs. They may sometimes lead to "recovered factories," in which the workers self-manage the factories.They have been used in many strike actions, including:...
.
Sud Aviation merged with Nord Aviation
Nord Aviation
Nord-Aviation was a state-owned French aircraft manufacturer. It was created on October 1, 1954 upon the acquisition of SFECMAS by SNCAN...
in 1970 to form the Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
company. Aérospatiale formed several large-scale international consortia, for example with British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG was a famous German aircraft manufacturing corporation named for its chief designer, Willy Messerschmitt, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, notably the Bf 109 and Me 262...
to form Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
, and ultimately merged into European aerospace company EADS
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
in 2000.