Nungesser Colvert - 1930's Amphibious record breaking aircraft

[RAFF-35]

In the early dawn of World War I, the skies over Europe were dominated by the biplanes and triplanes of daring aviators. Among them was a fearless French pilot named Charles Nungesser. With a charming smile and an indomitable spirit, Nungesser quickly rose to become France's third highest-scoring fighter ace. He painted his aircraft with a macabre insignia: a skull and crossbones, a coffin, and candles—a symbol of his readiness to face death head-on.

After the war, the thrill of combat left a void in Nungesser's life. He refused to let the world forget the excitement and heroism of aerial combat, and thus, he transformed into a global celebrity. Throughout the 1920s, he performed death-defying stunts and awe-inspiring flying demonstrations, captivating audiences around the world. In 1923, driven by his insatiable desire for innovation and speed, he designed his own aircraft, a sleek and powerful machine that embodied his daring spirit.

However, Nungesser's ambition was far from satisfied. In 1927, he set his sights on the ultimate challenge: the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. Taking off with his co-pilot, François Coli, in a custom-built biplane named L'Oiseau Blanc, they soared into the skies, full of hope and determination. But the journey was fraught with peril. Somewhere between Nova Scotia and St. Pierre & Miquelon, their plane crashed into the icy Atlantic waters. Miraculously, local fishermen found Nungesser, battered but alive, and brought him to the shores of Portland, Maine.

His near-death experience did little to quell his adventurous spirit. Furious to learn that Charles Lindbergh had completed the trans-Atlantic flight just two weeks earlier, Nungesser was undeterred. Returning to France, he plunged into the development of a revolutionary flying boat design, convinced that a hydravion could have carried him to victory.

By 1928, Nungesser was back in the skies, testing his innovative aircraft. Tragedy struck again when he crashed during a test flight, sustaining serious injuries. Yet, as he lay recovering in the hospital, his mind buzzed with ideas. Drawing from his recent setbacks, he designed a new aircraft, the Colvert, which he envisioned as a versatile airliner, mail plane, and private aircraft.

Leveraging his charm and celebrity status, Nungesser secured funding from enthusiastic investors and began building the Colvert prototype. Throughout 1929, the skies witnessed the graceful and powerful flights of the Colvert. Investors, thrilled with the progress, planned a series of record-breaking flights to showcase its capabilities.

In 1931, the world watched in awe as Nungesser completed the first flight from France to Canada, generating headlines across the globe. His journey continued with a groundbreaking landing at the North Pole, followed by the first flight from Paris to Madagascar in 1932, and later, the first flight from France to French Guinea. In 1933, he set a world altitude record for an amphibious aircraft, reaching an astonishing 27,032 feet over Brittany.

But Nungesser's insatiable thirst for adventure was boundless. In 1935, he embarked on an audacious quest: the fastest circumnavigation of the equator. As he soared between New Caledonia and Hawaii, the world held its breath. But this time, the skies held no mercy. Charles Nungesser vanished into the vast expanse of the Pacific, leaving behind only the legacy of a man who refused to live life on the ground.

Charles Nungesser's story is one of boundless ambition and indomitable spirit, a testament to the human desire to conquer the unknown. His daring exploits and relentless pursuit of greatness continue to inspire aviators and adventurers to this day.

[RAFF-35]

Here are some more photos of Nungesser's first aircraft, plus build photos etc

[kerick]

That's crazy looking and totally a golden age French inspiration!

[Old Wombat]

Good use of a Duck!

[ericr]

          

[Dizzyfugu]

Weird, but VERY cool! 

[frank2056]

That is such a fantastic variation on his plane. It's so very much an inter-war French design.

[comrade harps]

So cute and so Frenchy.

[NARSES2]

That is such a fantastic variation on his plane. It's so very much an inter-war French design.

Absolutely    Terrific stuff 

[PR19_Kit]

It could ONLY be French! 

[loupgarou]

   Weirder than weird !   

[zenrat]

Very good.  I like that a lot. 

Looks Russian to me.

[Joe C-P]

Zut alors!  Tres bien.   

[Zero-Sen]

Very good.  I like that a lot. 

Looks Russian to me.

More like the MiG-8 Outka

[RAFF-35]

Very good.  I like that a lot. 

Looks Russian to me.

I absolutely loved that build, Zenrat! It inspired me to use the J2F as a base to build a more developed version of Nungesser's Hydravion