On this day in aviation history, 68 years ago (July 4, 1958), the SAN Jodel D.140 Mousquetaire took flight for the first time. A French general-aviation aircraft, the Musketeer was a further development of the Jodel D.117. Developed by Société Aéronautique Normande (SAN), the D.140 could seat four passengers, three more than the D.117. D.140 F-BIZE was the first Mousquetaire to grace the skies. Early variants of the D.140 featured a distinctive low-cut triangular-shaped tailfin and rudder. Six variants of the D.140 were manufactured, from the D.140A Mousquetaire to the two-aircraft variant D.140R Abeille. Minor improvements were made along the way, including stronger brakes, a larger tail surface, and improved engine cowlings. SAN manufactured a total of 243 D.140s during the aircraft’s production run, and as of 2015, plans are still available to build one’s own.
The French Air Force ordered D.140E and D.140R variants for military use, but the Mousquetaire has found most of its success on the civilian market. Flying clubs and flight training schools continue to employ the D.140 as a vital tool in keeping general aviation in France alive. Many Mousquetaires continue to tow gliders today, as well. The SAN Jodel D.140 was powered by an 810-hp Lycoming O-360-A1A flat-four engine and had a cruise speed of 140 mph. The D.140 can attain a maximum airspeed of 160 mph and will stall at 34 mph. The Musketeer had a range of 650 nmi, a service ceiling of 14,800 ft, and the aircraft can climb at a rate of 985 fpm.
