The Dassault Mercure 100 is an aircraft manufactured by the aircraft manufacturer Dassault. Between 1973 and 1980, market studies reveal the existence of a potential market for 1,500 short-haul aircraft from 130 to 150 passengers. The Mercury program was then officially launched in April 1969. It was also the first aircraft fully managed by a women’s team, during a Paris-Nimes flight in 1985.

The prototype of the Mercure 100 made its first flight in Mérignac, on May 28, 1971. On June 2, 1971, four days after his first flight, he was presented at the Salon du Bourget. On January 30, 1972, the airline Air Inter ordered 10 aircraft. The first serial aircraft made its initial flight on July 19, 1973. The DGAC civil certification was obtained on February 12, 1974.

At the time of their retirement, the balance sheet of the Dassault Mercure is eloquent: 360,000 flight hours, 44 million passengers transported in 440,000 flights, without accident, with a regularity of service of 98%.

This is a 1/20th scale agency model of the Dassault Mercure in the colors of Air Inter, the French airline that was the sole operator of the Mercure.

Visual description

•      The model displays the typical Air Inter livery, featuring blue, white, and red colors and the stylized logo on the tail.

•      The windows, cockpit, and fuselage details are accurately represented, with one side showing a cutaway view of the orange passenger seats, typical of agency display models designed to present the cabin layout.

•      The chosen 1/20th scale explains its impressive size and precision of detail, sought after for presentation models in agencies or aeronautical design offices.

Dimensions of the 1/20th scale model:  

The actual dimensions of the Dassault Mercure are:

•      Length: 34.84 meters

•      Wingspan: 30.55 meters

•      Height: 11.36 meters

At 1/20th scale:

•      Model length: 1.74 m

•      Model wingspan: 1.53 m

•      Model height: 0.57 m

These dimensions make it a particularly striking piece, ideal for professional display or as a collector’s item.

Museographic and historical significance

•      The Mercure is a short‑haul twin‑jet designed by Dassault in the 1970s; it was intended to compete with the Boeing 737 and 727, but only 12 aircraft (including prototypes) were built, all operated by Air Inter.

•      Agency models of this size were used for presentations to airlines or at exhibitions (e.g. the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget) to promote the aircraft.

Mercure 100 AIR INTER Immatriculation F-BTTD à l’échelle 1/20ème avec vue en coupe

Le Dassault Mercure 100 est un avion fabriqué par le constructeur aéronautique Dassault. Entre 1973 et 1980, les études de marché font apparaître l’existence d’un marché potentiel de 1 500 appareils court courrier de 130 à 150 passagers. Le programme Mercure est alors officiellement lancé en avril 1969. Ce fut aussi le premier avion entièrement géré par une équipe féminine, lors d’un vol Paris-Nimes en 1985.

Le prototype du Mercure 100 réalise son premier vol à Mérignac, le 28 mai 1971. Le 2 juin 1971, quatre jours après son premier vol, il est présenté au Salon du Bourget. Le 30 janvier 1972, la compagnie aérienne Air Inter commande 10 appareils. Le premier avion de série fait son vol initial le 19 juillet 1973. La certification civile DGAC est obtenue le 12 février 1974.

À l’heure de leur retraite, le bilan des Dassault Mercure est éloquent : 360 000 heures de vol, 44 millions de passagers transportés en 440 000 vols, sans accident, avec une régularité de service de 98 %.