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Over the years La Mouette has adapted itself, daring unbelievable developments. In early 1974, Gérard Thevenot still a student at the engineering school of Nancy ISIN acquires the plans of the Seagull (an American manufactured glider) and decided to build his own wing based on this model in order to fulfil his wishes to become airborne. He called the wing “La Mouette” ( Meaning Seagull in French). By mistake he built the leading edges stronger than required due to the materials he had at hand, thus improving the wing's stability and performance. Enthusiasm about hanggliding and the new wing spread rapidly among his friends who begged him to build some for them.

Jean-Marc Thevenot, already employed at the time and very skilled with his hands, helped his younger brother construct these gliders and quickly realized how productive and promising this adventure could be. So he decided to start a company combining Gérard’s talent as a pilot and designer with his own intuitive skills for management. The company, La Mouette progressively grew and largely contributed to the performance and safety of the sport.

In 1979 La Mouette introduced the mythical “ATLAS” glider, which caused a real revolution in the hanggliding world. Equiped with sprogs, rigid and pre-formed aluminum battens, a pocket for the leading edge and a mylar sheet making a smoother leading edge for better penetration, the premises of a double surface, a fan-type arrangement for folding and unfolding. It offered above all safety and manoeuvrability. La Mouette built over 8000 Atlas wings that inspired numerous copies. 30 years later the Atlas remains a reference in matters of safety and pleasure, and is often used to introduce beginners to the sport. Furthermore, the technology developed at that time is still of use to current manufacturers around the world.



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