The designer of an amazing series of aircraft has gone west. Auguste Mudry, 90, is reported to have passed away on Saturday August 5, 2006. Sources tell ANN that Mudry was "...very attached to his native Savoy, (and) he will be buried in Seytroux, among his own family." Surviving this legend of aircraft design are his wife Helene, and children Michel and Martine.

Auguste Mudry created the first CAP 10 in 1970 to be a training aerobatic aircraft, reportedly inspired by the famous Emeraude designs of Claude Piel. 282 CAP 10Bs were built through 1997 and were succeeded by the CAP 10C shortly thereafter (produced by the Apex group after their acquisition of Mudry Aviation).

The Apex Group reports that at the end of the 90’s, the military CAP fleet amounted to some 60 CAP 10Bs. The French Air Force and Navy have used the CAP 10B for the selection of their pilots for 25 years. The CAP 10B was also a part of the creation of the French Air Force Aerobatic Flying Team (EVAA), which has produced some of the best aerobatic pilots in the world (including the incomparable Daniel Heligoin, Claude Bessiere, and Patrick Paris). French Naval Aviation programs reportedly operate 8 CAP 10s to enhance their pilot selection process while the EVAA still uses the CAP 10B for the basic training of pilots and competition presentations.

His first competition aerobat, the CAP 20 (a single seater) was flown in 1971, followed by the CAP 20L in 1976. In 1980, the CAP 21 competition aerobat was flown, followed by the CAP 231 in 1990, and the CAP 232 in 1994 -- an airplane that captured 12 World Aerobatic titles.

Both the CAP 10C and the CAP 232 are still in active serial production, today.

In September, ANN is told that a ceremony will gather at Bernay Airport, for all those who wish to pay their last respects to an aerobatic legend -- Auguste Mudry. We'll try to keep you updated on that memorial...

FMI: http://www.apex-aircraft.com