SEA IV
Encyclopedia
The SEA
IV was a French
two-seat military aircraft of World War I
and the immediate post-war era.
by Henry Potez
, Louis Coroller, and Marcel Bloch
. It was a derivative of their previous SEA II design, equipped with a more powerful Lorraine engine of 261 kW (350 hp). It made its first flight during the first quarter of 1918
, probably near Plessis-Belleville
. It was initially tested by Gustave Douchy
, a flying ace
of 9 victories, then by the pilots of the Centre d'essais en Vol at Villacoublay
. The "Ministère de l'Armement et des Fabrications de guerre" (Ministry of Armament and War Production) soon placed an order for 1,000 machines, making the SEA IV the first Dassault-designed aircraft to reach production.
: the SEA IV A2 for observation and the SEA IV C2 for fighting. In October, General Headquarters ordered the commissioning of a flotilla to operate these aircraft, and therefore required production to reach 200 planes per month during the first quarter of 1919, to have a force of 400 on hand by April 1
The Armistice
, however, meant that the initial order of 1,000 was cancelled, and in the end, only 115 examples were built. These C2s were used for a number of years by several escadrilles in the "Regiments d'Aviation" at Le Bourget
.
A further 25 were built by Aéroplanes Henry Potez as the Potez VII, a luxury touring aircraft, and one further example formed the basis of a racing aircraft.
Société d'Etudes Aéronautiques (France)
The Société d'Etudes Aéronautiques was a French aircraft manufacturer founded in 1916 by Henry Potez, Marcel Bloch, and Louis Coroller at Suresnes....
IV was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
two-seat military aircraft of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the immediate post-war era.
Development
The SEA IV was designed and built in 19171917 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1917:- Events :* During her 30 November 1916-24 February 1918 cruise, the Imperial German Navy commerce raider Wolf carries a Friedrichshafen FF.33e seaplane nicknamed Wölfchen , which during 1917 singlehandedly captures at least four of the 37 enemy...
by Henry Potez
Henry Potez
Henry Potez was a French aircraft industrialist.He studied in the French aeronautics school Supaéro. With Marcel Dassault, he was the inventor of the Potez-Bloch propeller which after 1917, have been set on most of all Allied planes of World War I.In 1919, he founded his own company Aviations...
, Louis Coroller, and Marcel Bloch
Marcel Dassault
Marcel Dassault, born Marcel Bloch was a French aircraft industrialist.-Biography:Dassault was born in Paris. After graduating from the lycée Condorcet, Breguet School and Supaero, he invented a type of aircraft propeller used by the French army during World War I and founded the Société des...
. It was a derivative of their previous SEA II design, equipped with a more powerful Lorraine engine of 261 kW (350 hp). It made its first flight during the first quarter of 1918
1918 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1918:- Events :*The Imperial Japanese Navy establishes its first lighter-than-air aviation unit.* The naval aviation branch of the Chilean Armys air corps receives its first aircraft....
, probably near Plessis-Belleville
Le Plessis-Belleville
Le Plessis-Belleville is a town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-See also:*Communes of the Oise department*Communes of the Picardie region ,http://www.lescommunes.com/regions/fr/picardie...
. It was initially tested by Gustave Douchy
Gustave Douchy
Capitaine Gustav Douchy was a French military officer who served in both World Wars. He was a flying ace in World War I, credited with nine confirmed aerial victories.-World War I:...
, a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of 9 victories, then by the pilots of the Centre d'essais en Vol at Villacoublay
Vélizy-Villacoublay
Vélizy-Villacoublay is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center and east of Versailles...
. The "Ministère de l'Armement et des Fabrications de guerre" (Ministry of Armament and War Production) soon placed an order for 1,000 machines, making the SEA IV the first Dassault-designed aircraft to reach production.
Operational history
On August 24, 1918, General Duval, commander of Aéronavale at General Headquarters foresaw the need for two variants to equip the escadrilles at the beginning of 19191919 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1919:- Events :* Raymond Orteig offers the Orteig Prize for the first non-stop transatlantic flight between New York and Paris....
: the SEA IV A2 for observation and the SEA IV C2 for fighting. In October, General Headquarters ordered the commissioning of a flotilla to operate these aircraft, and therefore required production to reach 200 planes per month during the first quarter of 1919, to have a force of 400 on hand by April 1
The Armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
, however, meant that the initial order of 1,000 was cancelled, and in the end, only 115 examples were built. These C2s were used for a number of years by several escadrilles in the "Regiments d'Aviation" at Le Bourget
Le Bourget
Le Bourget is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.A very small part of Le Bourget airport lies on the territory of the commune of Le Bourget, which nonetheless gave its name to the airport. Most of the airport lies on the territory of the...
.
A further 25 were built by Aéroplanes Henry Potez as the Potez VII, a luxury touring aircraft, and one further example formed the basis of a racing aircraft.