Marlène Aviation
banner
aviationmarlene.bsky.social
Marlène Aviation
@aviationmarlene.bsky.social
I talk about the french aviation history, aircraft, projects, and flying machines designed in France.

SE-210 "Caravelle" lover

A scientific mediator in the space industry
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
November 25, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
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.
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 AM
‘Diamant A’, the first European space launcher, made its maiden flight in 1965, placing the A-1 ‘Astérix’ satellite into orbit.
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
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.
November 23, 2025 at 10:56 AM
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.
November 23, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Some beautiful French bombers:

Amiot 351
LeO 451
Vautour II
Mirage IV
November 23, 2025 at 9:08 AM
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
November 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
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.
November 22, 2025 at 2:57 PM
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.
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The fabulous aircraft from Dassault in the late 1950s.
November 22, 2025 at 10:59 AM
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
November 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
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!
November 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
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
November 20, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Mr Leduc's beautiful silver bird, the 010.
Excerpt from the cover of Aviation Magazine No. 27, 1951.
November 19, 2025 at 3:56 PM
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.
November 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
A "Dragon Rapide" operated by Air France.
November 19, 2025 at 7:19 AM
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.
November 17, 2025 at 6:09 PM
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.
November 14, 2025 at 9:35 AM
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.
November 14, 2025 at 9:14 AM
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.
November 13, 2025 at 11:58 AM
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
November 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Reposted by Marlène Aviation
🚀 Appel à la communauté !
L’association Ailes Anciennes Toulouse recherche des pièces pour son Breguet Alizé :
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
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.
November 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM
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.
November 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM