▁René ▁Cou z inet ▁- ▁from ▁glory ▁to ▁decl ine ▁ ▁The ▁Cou z inet ▁ 3 3 ▁Bi ar ritz , ▁a ▁four - se ater ▁passenger ▁plane , ▁made ▁its ▁first ▁flight ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁November ▁ 1 9 3 1 . ▁From ▁March ▁ 6 ▁to ▁April ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 3 2 , ▁it ▁completed ▁the ▁first ▁air ▁link ▁from ▁France ▁to ▁New ▁C aled onia ▁pil oted ▁by ▁Charles ▁de ▁Ver ne il h ▁Pu yr ase au , ▁Max ▁D év é ▁second ▁pilot ▁and ▁radio ▁operator , ▁and ▁Em ile ▁M unch ▁mechan ic . ▁The ▁crew ▁were ▁un har med ▁by ▁its ▁rough ▁landing ▁at ▁T ont out a ▁N ou mé a ▁but ▁it ▁was ▁dis m ant led ▁and ▁sh ipped ▁back ▁to ▁France ▁by ▁sea . ▁The ▁Bi ar ritz , ▁rep a ired ▁and ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁more ▁powerful ▁engines , ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁perform ▁in ▁Europe , ▁including ▁a ▁flight ▁carrying ▁Pierre ▁Cot , ▁the ▁French ▁air ▁minister , ▁between ▁Moscow ▁and ▁Paris , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁to ▁make ▁several ▁fl ights ▁in ▁Africa , ▁including ▁to ▁the ▁Cape ▁Ver de ▁Islands . ▁Return ing ▁from ▁North ▁Africa , ▁it ▁crash ed ▁at ▁Bla isy - Bas ▁in ▁the ▁C ô te - d ' Or ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁October ▁ 1 9 3 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁Cou z inet ▁ 7 0 ▁Arc - en - C iel ▁III ▁made ▁its ▁first ▁flight ▁on