It is with deep sadness that we belatedly learn of the death of Mr. Paul-Louis Mathé, which occurred on November 22, 2022. He was an honorary member of section 2 of our Academy.
Born in Paris on May 7, 1931, Paul-Louis Mathé studied at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand before joining the École Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ENSAe), where he graduated in 1955. His remarkable career began in 1957 when he joined Avions Marcel Dassault, a company where he would devote nearly four decades of his professional life.
In 1967, he was appointed head of the Flight Qualities Department, a strategic position he held with unwavering dedication. His career at Dassault Aviation then led him to head the Flight Dynamics department from 1977 to 1996, during which time he played a crucial role in the company’s technological advances and innovations. In 1990, he became Deputy Director of the Advanced Studies Division, before becoming a Special Advisor to the Chief Technical Officer of Dassault Aviation in 1996, demonstrating his versatility and recognized expertise in the sector.
Among his many distinctions, Mr. Mathé was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit, a recognition of his exceptional contributions. He also received the Medal of Aeronautics and was honored with the Aeronautics Prize of the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France (AAAF) in 1987, testifying to the extent of his impact in the aeronautical field.
The Académie de l’air et de l’espace, of which he was a respected member, will pay tribute to Mr. Paul-Louis Mathé at a future meeting. This commemoration will be an opportunity to recall his exemplary career and to salute his invaluable contributions to French and international aviation.
