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Blériot Aéronautique

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Blériot Aéronautique
Company typePrivate
IndustryAviation, motorcycles, cyclecars
FoundedMarch 1, 1909; 117 years ago (1909-03-01) in Courbevoie, France
FounderLouis Blériot
FateMerged into SNCASO in 1936
Headquarters
Courbevoie, Suresnes (later)
,
France
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Louis Blériot (founder), André Herbemont (chief designer)
ProductsAircraft, motorcycles (1921–1922), cyclecars (1920s)

Blériot Aéronautique was a French aviation manufacturer established by Louis Blériot. Besides aircraft, the firm also produced motorcycles from 1921 to 1922 and manufactured cyclecars throughout the 1920s.

Background

Louis Blériot, an engineer credited with creating the first practical automobile headlamp, became deeply involved in aviation in 1905 after observing Gabriel Voisin's experiments with floatplane gliders. Following a short-lived collaboration with Voisin and the unsuccessful attempts with the Blériot III and Blériot IV, Blériot founded his own enterprise, "Recherches Aéronautique Louis Blériot," in Courbevoie in March 1909.

Blériot's early experiments

In contrast to Gabriel Voisin's straightforward design and manufacturing approach, Blériot’s firm functioned mainly as a privately funded research organization employing multiple engineers. Over several years, it developed a sequence of aircraft featuring gradual enhancements, culminating in the renowned Blériot XI, which achieved the historic first flight across the English Channel in 1909.

Aircraft design and manufacturing

The widely publicized Channel flight spurred significant demand for the Type XI, resulting in production of several hundred units. This commercial triumph enabled substantial expansion of research efforts, leading to a variety of aircraft models before the outbreak of the First World War, although none matched the Type XI's commercial prominence.

Flying schools

At the end of 1909, Blériot launched a flying school at Etampes near Rouen, followed by another at Pau early the next year. Between 1910 and 1914, these institutions trained approximately 1,000 pilots—accounting for nearly half of those holding an Aero Club de France license at the start of the First World War. In September 1910, a further school was opened at Hendon near London, and by July 1914, a flying school coupled with a small factory commenced operations at Brooklands, Surrey, producing around 20 Bleriot Monoplane Trainers under Norbert Chereau’s supervision.

SPAD

In 1913, Blériot acquired the assets of the Deperdussin company following its founder’s arrest for fraud. Renamed Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés (SPAD), this entity achieved significant success during World War I through large-scale production in French factories and exports worldwide. Production licenses were granted internationally, including to a British factory near Brooklands at Addlestone, Surrey by 1917 and to a production line at the Curtiss Elmwood facility in Buffalo, New York.

1914–18

Throughout WWI, Blériot Aéronautique mainly produced aircraft designed by other manufacturers. The sole aircraft under the Blériot brand during this period was a series of prototype multi-engine heavy bombers (Blériot 73), none of which entered active service.

After World War One

Following the Allied victory in 1918, Blériot faced difficulties as military demand plummeted and commercial aviation was still emerging. The company dissolved SPAD, selling off its factories while integrating key personnel—including chief designer André Herbemont—into Blériot’s Suresnes facility. On 6 April 1919, Blériot co-founded Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes (CMA). At the Paris Aero Salon in December 1919, they showcased the Type 75 Mammoth airliner prototype alongside three SPAD models (S.27, S.29, S.30). Although the Type 75 did not succeed commercially, CMA placed an order for 10 S.27s; its five-seat derivative, the S.33, took flight in late 1920 followed by the larger S.46.

Blériot expanded into fishing boat construction and motorcycle production at Suresnes. At the October 1919 Paris Motor Show, it promoted a motorcycle and subsequently introduced an elegant cyclecar equipped with a two-cylinder 750cc two-stroke engine and shaft drive. These French cyclecars were distinct from the chain-driven Blériot-Whippet vehicles manufactured at Blériot’s Addlestone factory in England.

In 1922, Blériot Aéronautique was reorganized as a limited company named Blériot Aéronautique S.A. Aircraft manufacturing continued under both Blériot and SPAD brands—Blériot focusing on larger multi-engine planes while SPAD concentrated on smaller single-engine types—with SPAD enjoying greater commercial success.

The only extensively produced aircraft bearing the Blériot name during this era was the Type 127 bomber variant derived from the earlier Type 117 escort fighter; the French Air Force acquired 42 units.

The final Blériot aircraft was the sizable flying boat Blériot 5190, intended for transatlantic mail service between Dakar and Natal, Brazil. First flown in August 1933 and christened Santos-Dumont, it completed twelve Atlantic crossings and inspired plans for passenger versions. In May 1935, after placing an order for three additional units, the French government canceled it six weeks later.

In October 1936, aiming to enhance military aircraft production capacity, the French government consolidated several manufacturers—including Blériot Aéronautique—into SNCASO (a forerunner of Airbus).

Blériot aircraft prior to the First World War

  • Bleriot I (1901) An unmanned ornithopter powered by a carbonic acid engine.
  • Blériot II (1905) A biplane floatplane glider constructed by Gabriel Voisin. Crashed on its maiden flight and subsequently abandoned.
  • Blériot III (1906) Tandem-wing biplane equipped with a 24 hp Antoinette engine. Did not succeed.
  • Blériot IV (1906) An updated version of Type III fitted with two Antoinette engines. Also unsuccessful.
  • Blériot V (1907) A single-seat, single-engine monoplane featuring a canard layout.
  • Blériot VI (1907) Single-seat aircraft with a single engine and tandem wings.
  • Blériot VII (1907)
  • Blériot VIII (1908) The first aircraft to incorporate the direct predecessor of the contemporary aircraft flight control system.
  • Blériot IX (1908) A Tractor configuration monoplane that never flew; currently preserved at Musée de l'Air, Paris.
  • Blériot X (1908) Canard biplane that did not achieve flight.
  • Blériot XI (1909) Single-engine, single-seat tractor monoplane; famously used for the inaugural English Channel crossing.
  • Blériot XII (1909) High-wing monoplane designed for one occupant.
  • Blériot XIII (1910) Five-seat biplane with pusher configuration.
  • Blériot XIV (1910) Two-seat monoplane model.
  • Blériot XX (1910) Single-seat monoplane distinguished by an extended triangular tailplane.
  • Blériot XXI (1911) Military two-seat monoplane; displayed at the 1911 Paris Aero Salon and competed in the 1912 British Military Aeroplane Competition.
  • Blériot XXIII (1911) Narrow-chord wing racing monoplane powered by a 100 hp Gnome engine; secured second place in the 1911 Gordon Bennett Trophy piloted by Alfred Leblanc.
  • Blériot XXIV (1911) "Limousine" variant of Type XIII featuring an enclosed passenger cabin; presented at the 1911 Paris Aero Salon.
  • Blériot XXV (1911) Single-seat pusher canard monoplane design.
  • Blériot XXVI (1911) Single-seat pusher canard triplane; only one built and probably never flown.
  • Blériot XXVII (1911) Racing monoplane for one occupant, powered by a 50 hp Gnome engine; exhibited at the 1911 Paris Aero Salon and preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum London.
  • Blériot XXVIII "Populaire" (1911) A Type XI derivative with altered cowling and powered by a 35 hp Anzani engine; shown at the 1911 Paris Aero Salon.
  • Blériot XXIX (1912) Proposed two-seat military observation and sports monoplanes that were never constructed.
  • Blériot XXXIII "Canard Bleu" (1912) Two-seat canard monoplane driven by a 70 hp Gnome engine.
  • Blériot XXXVI "Torpille" (1912) Two-seat military monoplane showcased at the 1912 Paris Aero Salon; notable for its streamlined fuselage and unique undercarriage design.
  • Blériot XXXVII (1913) An evolution of Type XXV; crashed in 1913 resulting in the death of pilot Edmond Perreyon.

Blériot aircraft during the First World War

  • Blériot 67 Four-engine bomber prototype, only one built.
  • Blériot 73 Prototype four-engine bomber, single example produced.
  • Blériot 74 Four-engine bomber prototype, one unit constructed.

Blériot aircraft after the First World War

  • Blériot 75 Aerobus (1919) A four-engine biplane airliner, evolved from the Type 74 model.
  • Blériot 102 (1922) Ultralight touring aircraft featuring a single seat and engine.
  • Blériot 115 (1923) Biplane airliner powered by four engines.
  • Blériot 105 (1924) Single-engine cabin biplane, based on the SPAD S.45 design.
  • Blériot 106 (1924) Cabin monoplane with a single engine.
  • Blériot 117 (1924) Bomber aircraft equipped with two engines.
  • Blériot 135 (1924) Variant of the Type 115 fitted with radial engines.
  • Blériot 118 (1925) Amphibious twin-engine flying-boat fighter.
  • Blériot 155 (1925) Four-engine biplane airliner derived from Types 115 and 135.
  • Blériot 165 (1926) Biplane airliner powered by four engines.
  • Blériot 175 (1928) Type 165 upgraded with new engines and night-flying gear; later restored to original Type 165 configuration.
  • Blériot 111 (1929–1934) Executive transport aircraft seating four passengers.
  • Blériot 127 (1929) Twin-engine bomber developed as a successor to the Type 117.
  • Blériot 195 (1929) Four-engine monoplane designed for mail transport, available in landplane and floatplane versions.
  • Blériot 110 (1930) High-wing monoplane intended for long-distance flights, featuring a single seat and engine.
  • Blériot 137 (1930) Prototype light bomber and reconnaissance plane, evolved from the Type 127.
  • Blériot 125 (1931) Twin-fuselage airliner powered by two engines.
  • Blériot 290 (1931) Light amphibious flying boat with a single engine.
  • Blériot 5190 (1933) Parasol-wing flying boat with four engines, designed for transatlantic mail service.

Blériot-SPAD aircraft

Sources

  • Elliot, Brian A. Blériot: Herald of an Age. Stroud: Tempus, 2000
  • G.N. Georgano, Nick (Ed.) (2000). The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers.
  • Opdycke, Leonard E. French Aeroplanes Before the Great War. Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1999.
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