RU

Designers and engineers · France

Marcel Dassault — biography and achievements

Marcel Dassault (1892–1986), born Marcel Bloch, was a French aviation engineer and industrialist. His career began with the Éclair propeller, continued with aircraft and, after the war, jet aviation. He survived imprisonment at Buchenwald. His postwar school created the Ouragan, Mirage family and Falcon business aircraft. His biography connects business aviation with the first Mystère 20, later Falcon 20.

Marcel Dassault — archive photograph.
Marcel Dassault — archive photograph.

Life and work in aviation

Marcel Dassault (1892–1986), born Marcel Bloch, was a French aviation engineer and industrialist. His career began with the Éclair propeller, continued with aircraft and, after the war, jet aviation. He survived imprisonment at Buchenwald. His postwar school created the Ouragan, Mirage family and Falcon business aircraft. His biography connects business aviation with the first Mystère 20, later Falcon 20.

Airplanes and early aircraft

During the First World War, Marcel Bloch worked on the ?clair air screw. The successful shape of the propeller should be combined with the engine and the purpose of the aircraft: the efficiency depends on the mode of operation of the entire power plant. Further career included its own aircraft manufacturing enterprises. This early experience helped to form an engineering and industrial environment in which it was possible not only to propose a project, but also to organize its production.

War period and reinstatement

During the occupation of France, Bloch was persecuted and imprisoned in Buchenwald. After his release, he returned to aviation and adopted the surname Dasso. In the biography, it is important not to silence this stage, but not to reduce the entire professional history to it. Post-war recovery meant the creation of new teams and the transition to jet technology, which required other engines, aerodynamics and test methods.

Ouragan and the Mirage Family

Ouragan became one of the key early French jet aircraft, and Mirage became a well-known Dassault school family. The work of the company has developed through many projects, specialists and production tasks. Mentioning the founder explains direction and direction, but does not mean that he personally performed each calculation. Through these machines, the transition of the French industry from recovery to its own large jet aircraft program can be traced.

Falcon and Business Aviation

The Mystére 20 first flew on 4 May 1963 and became the first representative of the Falcon line of business aircraft. The project transferred the engineering experience of the company to the civil transportation of small groups of passengers. Speed, cabin comfort, range and operation on business routes were important here. The modern Falcon refers to the further development of the school after Dasso; they cannot be declared personal completed projects of the founder only by the name of the manufacturer.

What turns a plane into a transport system?

The transport aircraft is assessed according to the task of transportation: the weight of the cargo, the number of people, the distance and the conditions of the airfield. The maximum distance from the directory does not mean the ability to take a full load on the same distance. Fuel and payload take up part of the permissible mass. Therefore, the history of the project is associated with compromises. A car for a local line, postal route and intercontinental flight is designed for different requirements, even if all three carry people or things.

A regular line requires repeatability. The aircraft should be serviced between flights, and crews should receive training and up-to-date information. The state of the weather and equipment affects the decision to make a specific departure. For early carriers, the organization of remote stops was especially difficult. The delivery of fuel and spare parts could be as important as the vehicle’s range itself, since without ground support, the next stage of the journey became impossible.

The layout of the cargo cabin, entrances and loading devices determines the suitability of the aircraft for a real task. Useful not just a large internal volume, but the ability to place and secure the desired cargo. The passenger car adds requirements to the conditions of stay of people and the work of the crew. Designers agree on these issues with strength, mass and operation. The carrier, pilot and manufacturer therefore affect the final result in different ways.

The transport program lives longer than a single first flight. Modifications appear in it, equipment changes and conditions of use are specified. The founder of the school may not be involved in later versions, but his organization retains design experience. Studying the biography, it is useful to distinguish the initial project from the subsequent family. This makes it possible to trace the development of transportation without erroneously attributing all subsequent machines to one well-known name.

Major achievements

  • He developed the ?clair propeller and participated in the early French aircraft industry.
  • Restored aviation activities after the war
  • Created a school of jet aircraft and the Falcon business family

Aircraft and flying machines

  • Éclair
  • Dassault Ouragan
  • Dassault Mirage
  • Mystère 20 / Falcon 20

Organisations and events

Dassault Aviation

  • Development of ?clair in 1916
  • Postwar development of jet aircraft
  • First flight of Mystére 20 in 1963

Questions about this biography

Why is Marcel Dassault in the history of aviation?

He developed the ?clair propeller and participated in the early French aircraft industry. He resumed aviation activities after the war. He created the school of jets and the Falcon business family.

With what field of aviation is this biography connected?

Marcel Dassault (1892-1986), born Marcel Bloch, was a French aviation engineer and industrialist.

What aircraft are involved in this work?

The biography is associated with: ?clair, Dassault Ouragan, Dassault Mirage, Myst?re 20 / Falcon 20. Their role and period are described in the main sections.

What events help to understand the professional path?

Major historical episodes: Development of ?clair in 1916; Post-war development of jet aircraft; First flight of Myst?re 20 in 1963.

What organizations are mentioned in the biography?

The professional path is connected with organizations and communities: Dassault Aviation.

Are Myst?re 20 and Falcon 20 linked?

Yeah. Mystére 20 is the original name of the first business aircraft of this line. On the international market, the family became known as the Falcon 20.

What is the technical context of this story?

The transport aircraft is assessed according to the task of transportation: the weight of the cargo, the number of people, the distance and the conditions of the airfield. The maximum distance from the directory does not mean the ability to take a full load on the same distance. Fuel and payload take up part of the permissible mass. Therefore, the history of the project is associated with compromises. A car for a local line, postal route and intercontinental flight is designed for different requirements, even if all three carry people or things.

Keep reading

Clyde Cessna

William Lear

Aviation calendar — events and historical dates