Avions Mauboussin is the name of two distinct French aircraft manufacturing enterprises separated by time but connected by the revival of the brand.
Historic Company (1935–1944)
The original Avions Mauboussin was a French aircraft manufacturer founded in 1935 by Pierre Mauboussin. Prior to this, Mauboussin had been in partnership with engineer Louis Peyret from 1928 under the name Peyret-Mauboussin, jointly designing light sporting aircraft. After Peyret's death in 1933, Mauboussin left the partnership and established his own design company. In 1936, the company was acquired by Fouga and subsequently operated as Etablissements Fouga et Compagnie, though it continued producing designs under the Mauboussin name until 1948.
Notable aircraft designs include the Mauboussin M.120 Corsaire series (over 100 built pre- and post-war), the M.112 Corsaire, the M.40 Hemiptere (a single-seat double monoplane built in 1936), the M.200 series, and the M.300 twin-engined trainer. Pierre Mauboussin later collaborated with Robert Castello to design the CM series of gliders and, in 1951, the CM-170 Fouga Magister, the first jet-powered training aircraft, of which over 800 were produced.
Modern Revival (2011–present)
In 2011, the Avions Mauboussin brand was revived by David Gallezot, a graduate of École Polytechnique and Supaéro, who founded a new company based in Belfort (since 2020) and Toulouse (since 2021). The revived company focuses on designing clean, quiet, ultra-short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft using hybrid and hydrogen propulsion, natural composite materials, and reduced infrastructure requirements.
Two main programs are currently under development:
- Alérion M1h: A light tandem two-seat aircraft with hybrid drive, first flight in 2023.
- Alcyon M3c: A six-seat regional hybrid multi-engine aircraft (5 passengers + 1 pilot) designed for inter-urban and regional mobility, hydrogen-ready, and compatible with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
The modern Avions Mauboussin is supported by the Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region, the French State, BPI France, ADEME, and has been selected for the MAELE project of the Occitanie Region.
