Société Boisavia
B.60 Mercurey
The Boisavia B.60 Mercurey was a French light utility and training aircraft developed in the early 1950s by Société Boisavia, a small manufacturer based near Paris. Conceived as a versatile replacement for wartime trainers, the Mercurey first flew on 26 March 1952 and entered limited production that year. Its high‑wing, strut‑braced monoplane layout combined a rugged steel tube fuselage with fabric covering, while the wings were of all‑metal construction, providing a balance of durability and low cost. Powered by a 115‑horsepower Lycoming O‑235 engine, the aircraft offered a maximum speed of roughly 170 km/h, a range of 800 km, and could accommodate a pilot plus two passengers or an instructor and student in a tandem cockpit. Simple controls, forgiving handling, and easy maintenance made it popular with French flying clubs and regional aero‑schools. Although only about 30 units were built before production ceased in 1956, the B.60 demonstrated the post‑war shift toward economical civilian training platforms. Its design philosophy influenced later French light aircraft, and the Mercurey remains a collector’s piece representing the ingenuity of small‑scale French aviation manufacturing during the early Cold War era.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1949