I thought about focusing on the aircraft, the Couzinet 70, and the designer Rene Couzinet behind this beautiful machine, but I strongly feel that I need to explore the life of Jean Mermoz. This simple news clipping that my father saved contains a bountiful wealth of aviation history that I find troublesome as to where to continue. Plus, it demonstrated the reliability needed in making regular transatlantic airmail service possible and is Mermoz’s favorite for long overwater flights. This monoplane’s sleek design was ahead of its time, giving France an edge over other rivals. Mermoz pilots the trimotor Couzinet 70 landplane from Istres, France to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a return flight back setting a new world record in the flying time of 54 hours and 33 minutes. Now, let us return to the article, shall we?Ĭouzinet 70 (courtesy Pinterest, Unknown Author, Unknown Source) And to think, the clue was in the title all along. But soon enough, and with a little research, I realized the English translation for “Arc-en-Ciel” is “Rainbow” and was then able to identify the aircraft correctly. I thought, how strange to mention a “Rainbow” in a black and white photo. I didn’t recognize the French word “Arc-en-Ciel” in the description and found the title a little confusing regarding a rainbow. The story of Jean Mermoz is no different, and please join me while I interpret the facts and create a timeline of this alluring pioneer! And I thank my father for introducing me to these people, the historical aviators of the past for which aviation today wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for their significant contributions.Ī Couzinet 70 Arc-en-Ciel III, aka “Rainbow,” shown taking off in the above news clipping dated by my father, January 1933, provided by Times Wide World Photos, Paris Bureau. My mindset has changed since I wrote the first blog on Vincent Burnelli and continues to evolve with each passing article. Don’t get me wrong, I did appreciate the wealth of historical facts, but was too naïve to understand the importance of the information contained within these pages. It’s not as simple as I first thought when I was looking through his book for the first time. I’m finding that with each new clipping that I discover in my father’s scrapbook opens a historical path that I never knew existed.
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