Jean Pinet – Great Medal of the Aero-Club of France
On February 6, 2019, the Aero-Club de France awarded its Great medal to Jean Pinet, Concorde test pilot.
An aeronautical engineer and fighter pilot, Jean Pinet was also one of the test pilots of Concorde, in André Turcat’s team from the beginning of the programme. The supersonic aircraft performed its first flight on 2 March 1969 in Toulouse, but when it broke the sound barrier for the first time on 1st October, it was Jean Pinet who was at the controls. He was also responsible for setting up the Aeroformation training centre, now known as Airbus training. The medal will be awarded by Patrick Gandil, French director general of civil aviation.
Upon receiving his medal, Jean Pinet gave a highly reasoned and lucid speech on the changing profession of the commercial aviation pilot.
