Avions Amiot
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Predecessor | Society of Mechanical Drawing and Construction (SECM) |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founder | Félix Amiot |
| Defunct | 1945 |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | Le Bourget, France (initially), later Marseilles, France , France |
Area served | France and abroad |
Key people | Félix Amiot |
| Products | Aircraft manufacturing, including Amiot 143, Amiot 354, Amiot AAC.1 Toucan |
Number of employees | 3,000 (during WWII relocation) |
Avions Amiot was a French aviation manufacturer established in 1916 by Félix Amiot under the name Society of Mechanical Drawing and Construction (SECM).
History
Although Félix Amiot initiated aircraft manufacturing efforts in 1913, his substantial involvement began during World War I when SECM, co-owned by the Wertheimer brothers and Amiot, obtained a contract from the French Ministry of Defence. During this period, SECM and Amiot primarily functioned as subcontractors and assemblers, without creating their own original aircraft designs.
Following the war, SECM and Amiot shifted their attention to producing light aircraft. In 1929, they gained financial benefit by selling their shares in the Lorraine-Dietrich engine firm to the government. In 1934, the Lorraine company—then operating as SGA—was controversially acquired by Amiot-SECM and Marcel Bloch at a price significantly lower than its prior valuation.
Amiot exercised control over SGA, the initial SECM-Amiot facility at Le Bourget, and CAN () located in Cherbourg. During the early stages of military rearmament, Amiot achieved success with the Amiot 143, despite its lackluster appearance. Subsequently, the more advanced Amiot 354 bomber further solidified the company's standing in the industry.
Following the fall of Paris in June 1940, Amiot relocated operations along with 3,000 employees to a new plant in Marseilles. Throughout the German occupation, Amiot cooperated with occupying forces to protect both his own and the Wertheimers’ business interests. He served as a subcontractor for Junkers, manufacturing 370 aircraft. After the war, licensed production of the Junkers Ju 52 continued under the name Amiot AAC.1 Toucan, with over 400 units constructed for use by French military and civilian airlines domestically and abroad.
Aircraft
- Amiot 110 - 1928
- Amiot 110-S (Seaplane) - 1931
- Amiot 120 Series - 1925
- Amiot 140/150 Series - 1931
- Amiot 340/350 Series - 1940
- Amiot AAC.1 Toucan (Variant of Junkers Ju 52)
Bibliography
- Lemesle, André; Du pionnier de l’aviation au père des vedettes de Cherbourg ou la passionnante aventure industrielle de Félix Amiot (1894–1974), Mémoire de la société nationale académique de Cherbourg, vol. 31, 1995.
- Patard, Frédéric; L’aventure Amiot-CMN, des hommes, le ciel et la mer, Éditions des Champs, 1998