The Société d'Études Aéronautiques (SEA) (, "Society for Aeronautical Studies") was a French aircraft manufacturer founded in 1916 by Henry Potez, Marcel Bloch, and Louis Coroller at Suresnes.
Having been established amid the First World War, the company was from its onset focused upon the manufacture of military aircraft. It quickly found work producing large numbers of combat aircraft on behalf of the French military. However, following the end of the conflict, a major glut in surplus aircraft and the cancellation of many outstanding orders rapidly pushed the company into dire straights. Some officials, like Bloch, decided to withdraw from the aviation sector entirely in light of the poor economic prospects of the early 1920s aviation market.
History
The formation of the Société d’Etudes Aéronautiques (SEA) can be largely attributed to the undertakings of two French engineers, Henry Potez and Marcel Bloch. To meet this rapid demand, Potez and Bloch founded a separate company, the Compagnie Anjou Aéronautique ("Anjou Aeronautical Company"), to undertake their production. This entity was established at Angers with a new partner Julien Bessonneau. However, the outstanding production order would ultimately be cancelled, causing fatal economic hardship for both companies.
SEA was wound up shortly after the conflict's end. However, Potez and Bloch went on to found their own separate and highly successful companies shortly thereafter. The Société d'Etudes Aéronautiques, a Belgian firm of the same name established in 1936 was entirely unrelated to the earlier French company.
Aircraft
- SEA IV
- Potez SEA VII