Dassault MD-312 Flamant 320 F-AZZR | Amicale Alenconnaise des Avions Anciens
- STATUS: Airworthy
- LOCATION: Rennes–Saint‑Jacques Airport, France
- OWNER: Musée Aéronautique de Bretagne
- ROLE: Cargo
- BUILT: 1953
- LENGTH: 12.6 m 41 ft 4 in
- WINGSPAN: 18m 59 ft 1
- ENGINE: 2 × Renault 12S radial engines (SNECMA‑built)
- MAXIMUM SPEED: 199 mph 320 km/h
- RANGE: 930 miles 1500 km
Twin‑engine trainer, liaison and light transport aircraft (France)
The Dassault MD‑312 Flamant occupies a fascinating niche in post‑war European aviation: a rugged, multi‑role twin that helped rebuild the French Air Force’s training and communications capability after the Second World War. First flown in 1947, the Flamant was one of Marcel Dassault’s earliest designs after his return to aircraft production, and it set the tone for the company’s post‑war resurgence.
The MD‑312 variant—distinguished by its dedicated training role—served as a navigation, bombardment, and multi‑engine trainer. Its broad glazed nose, spacious cabin, and stable handling made it ideal for introducing crews to the complexities of twin‑engine operations. While modest in performance, the Flamant excelled in reliability and adaptability, operating from rough airstrips across France’s overseas territories and supporting a wide range of missions.
Dassault MD‑312 Flamant F‑AZZR is one of the best‑documented surviving examples of the type, carrying construction number 240 and built in 1953. Originally delivered to the Armée de l’Air, it served as part of France’s post‑war training fleet, providing navigation, bombardment, and multi‑engine instruction during a period when the French Air Force was rebuilding its operational capability.
After retirement from military service, the aircraft passed through several French historic‑aviation associations, including Amicale des Avions Anciens d’Albert and later Amicale Alenconnaise des Avions Anciens, where it has been recorded as stored in recent years before finally being restored.
Though overshadowed by Dassault’s later jet-powered icons, the Flamant remains a symbol of the company’s rebirth and a reminder of the practical, workmanlike aircraft that underpinned Europe’s return to operational normality. Today, a handful survive in civilian hands, prized for their vintage charm, distinctive lines, and unmistakable radial-engine soundtrack.
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