René Couzinet

René Couzinet (20July 190416December 1956) was a French aeronautics engineer and aircraft manufacturer, inventor with 91 patented registered inventions. The Société des Avions René Couzinet manufactured a range of Couzinet aircraft during the 1920s and 1930s.

Biography Share of the Avions René Couzinet S. A., issued 30 November 1928 Couzinet's father was a school teacher, and from a very young age he was fascinated by aviation and observing the flight of swallows. In 1921 he enrolled at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers (ENSAM) (School of Arts and Crafts) at Angers (with Louis Béchereau), where he both graduated and filed several aviation patents. In 1924 he attended the École supérieure de l’aéronautique (Graduate School of Aeronautics). He financed his studies by working in a turbine factory, before joining the French Air Force (Armée de l'air) in November 1925, where he became a lieutenant.

L'"Arc-en-Ciel", 14 June 1934, landed for the first time at Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

The Couzinet 33 Biarritz, a four-seater passenger plane, made its first flight on 25 November 1931. From March 6 to April 5, 1932, it completed the first air link from France to New Caledonia piloted by Charles de Verneilh Puyraseau, Max Dévé second pilot and radio operator, and Emile Munch mechanic. The crew were unharmed by its rough landing at Tontouta Nouméa but it was dismantled and shipped back to France by sea. The Biarritz, repaired and equipped with more powerful engines, went on to perform in Europe, including a flight carrying Pierre Cot, the French air minister, between Moscow and Paris, as well as to make several flights in Africa, including to the Cape Verde Islands. Returning from North Africa, it crashed at Blaisy-Bas in the Côte-d'Or on 30 October 1933.

Family In 1936, he married Gilberte (née Chazottes) the widow of aviator Jean Mermoz.

Death and commemoration During World War II he emigrated to Brazil and was responsible for the technical direction of their national aviation policy. On return to France he found most consultancy opportunities were closed to him, and his many futuristic projects, hydrofoil and vertical take-off flying saucer aircraft, named Aérodyne à ailes multiples, did not progress beyond concepts and models. In despair, on 16 December 1956 he killed both himself and his wife Gilberte. He is buried in the cemetery of Bagneux, Paris.

The at La Roche-sur-Yon is named Aérodrome René-Couzinet.

The Collège René Couzinet at Chantonnay is named in his honour.