Dassault Mercure

Mercure
Air Inter Dassault Mercure 100
General information
TypeNarrow-body jet airliner
National originFrance
ManufacturerDassault Aviation
StatusRetired
Primary userAir Inter
Number built12
History
Manufactured1971–1975
Introduction date4 June 1974 with Air Inter
First flight28 May 1971
Retired29 April 1995

The Dassault Mercure is a twin-engined narrow-body jet-powered airliner developed and manufactured by French aircraft firm Dassault Aviation. According to Dassault, it was the first large-scale European cooperative civil aeronautics programme.[1]

During 1967, the Mercure was proposed as a French competitor to the American Boeing 737. It was Dassault's first venture into the commercial jet airliner market, the company having traditionally built fighters and executive jets. On 28 May 1971, the prototype conducted its maiden flight, while the type entered service on 4 June 1974 with French airline Air Inter.

Attempts were made to market the type in the US, including partnerships with American manufacturers Douglas, Lockheed and General Dynamics, with the vision of producing it in the United States. However, the Mercure had very little success on the market, which has been attributed to several factors, including a lack of range in comparison to rival aircraft. As a consequence, there were only 12 aircraft constructed, all of which were built between 1971 and 1975. The Mercure performed its final flight in 1995.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference dass offic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Developed by StudentB