Astra Clément-Bayard

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Astra Clément-Bayard was a French maker of airships. In 1908 Adolphe Clément-Bayard, already rich from cars, motorcycles and bicycles, started in aviation. His first idea, a lens-shaped airship by Louis Capazza, was never built. He then teamed with Société Astra to build a more conventional airship: Astra made the envelope, while Clément-Bayard supplied the nacelle and engine. They later began making envelopes themselves at a new factory in La Motte-Breuil, set up for Army orders. The No.1 airship was offered to France but was too expensive, so Tsar Nicholas II bought it for Russia. In 1910 No.2, piloted by Maurice Clément-Bayard, was the first airship to cross the English Channel, traveling about 380 km in six hours. The French army bought three airships. The company was bought by Citroën in 1922. The La Motte-Breuil hangar is still kept by Clément-Talbot Ltd. Seven airships were completed.