Snecma

Snecma is a major French manufacturer of engines for commercial and military aircraft, and for space vehicles. The name is an acronym for Société Nationale d'Étude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation (in English, "National Company for the Design and Construction of Aviation Engines").

In 2005, the Snecma group, which included Snecma (called Snecma Moteurs at this time), merged with SAGEM to form SAFRAN. Snecma is now a subsidiary of the SAFRAN Group and previous Snecma group subsidiaries have been reorganised within the wider group.

History

Snecma was formed in 1945 when the large French aero engine firm Gnome & Rhône was nationalized.

1960s

In 1961, Snecma and Bristol Siddeley agreed to a joint venture to produce the power plant for Concorde, which would become the Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593. the main body of the engine came from the Bristol Olympus with the refinements being the addition of the variable intakes necessary for supersonic flight.

In 1968, Snecma took control of Hispano-Suiza, Socata and Bugatti. Snecma valued Bugatti's automobile background (turbochargers and engines). In a subsequent reorganisation, all aero-engine maintenance services would be grouped as Sochata-Snecma.

1970s

In 1970, Messier and Snecma agreed to merge their landing gear businesses. The following year, Messier-Hispano was formed in which Snecma held a stake. Snecma took full control of Messier-Hispano in 1973, .

In 1977, the landing gear business was further...
Read More