CAP SUR OSHKOSH EUROSQUADRON 2005

Air Classics, Jul 2005

France invades Oshkosh! In what has to be one of the most ambitious transatlantic undertakings, two restored Dassault MD312 Flamant if (Flamingo) twin-engine military liaison aircraft will fly from Paris to Oshkosh accompanied by 19 general aviation aircraft of the French Euro Squadron. The aircraft are scheduled to depart Paris on 18 July and arrive at Wittman Regional Airport on the 25 July opening day.

The MD312 was designed shortly after WWII by Marcel Dassault and Paul Deplante. The French government held a competition to produce a twin-engine liaison aircraft for the French military and Dassault won out over the SO94 and Siebel NC701, because the design was lighter and more maneuverable. Two German-designed Snecma 12S Argus engines power the plane. Dassault built 325 Flamants, Originally, three 312s were planning to make the flight, but financial resources and parts availability narrowed the field to two. It will cost about $60.000 per airplane to fly to and from Oshkosh. (EAA)