René Couzinet (20 July 1904 – 16 December 1956) was a French aeronautics engineer and aircraft manufacturer, inventor with 91 patented registered inventions.

[2] Couzinet's father was a school teacher, and from a very young age he was fascinated by aviation and observing the flight of swallows.

In 1921 he enrolled at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers (ENSAM) (School of Arts and Crafts) at Angers (with Louis Béchereau), where he both graduated and filed several aviation patents.

He financed his studies by working in a turbine factory, before joining the French Air Force (Armée de l'air) in November 1925, where he became a lieutenant.

[2] The aircraft manufacturer ANF Les Mureaux agreed to take charge of the first prototype, with Couzinet consulting, making observations and studies.

On 16 January 1933, piloted by Jean Mermoz and accompanied by Couzinet himself, he crossed the South Atlantic from Saint-Louis, Senegal, to Natal, Brazil, in less than twelve hours.

On return to France he found most consultancy opportunities were closed to him, and his many futuristic projects, hydrofoil and vertical take-off flying saucer aircraft, named Aérodyne à ailes multiples, did not progress beyond concepts and models.