A 1949 seaplane crash left Jacqueline Auriol with severe facial injuries, requiring thirty-three reconstructive surgeries and nearly three years of hospitalization. During her recovery, she focused on intense academic study of aerodynamics and trigonometry, eventually obtaining an advanced pilot license in 1950 and becoming one of the first women to qualify as a professional test pilot.
From Art Studies to Aviation
Born in 1917 in Challans, Auriol initially pursued an education in the arts, attending Nantes University and the École du Louvre. Following her 1938 marriage to Paul Auriol, she sought a career in the skies, earning her pilot license in 1948. She quickly transitioned into stunt flying before her career was interrupted by the 1949 SCAN 30 aircraft accident.
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Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Auriol engaged in a series of record-breaking flights. In 1951, she reached 818.18 km/h in a British-made Vampire, surpassing Jacqueline Cochran. She continued to push limits, utilizing aircraft such as the Sud-Est Mistral, the Mystère IVN, and the Dassault Mirage IIIC. By 1963, she achieved a speed of 2,038.70 km/h in a Mirage IIIR, cementing her status as a primary figure in experimental aviation.
Recognition and Legacy
Auriol received significant institutional recognition for her technical contributions. She was awarded the Harmon International Trophy four times and earned the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit in 1997. In 1983, she helped found the French Académie de l'air et de l'espace. Following her death in 2000 in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, she remained a noted subject in aviation history, having authored her autobiography, I Live to Fly, in 1970.
Fast facts
- Born: 1917, Challans
- Died: 2000, Paris
- Primary Occupation: Aircraft pilot
- 1951 Record: 818.18 km/h
- 1963 Record: 2,038.70 km/h
- Autobiography: I Live to Fly (1970)
- Highest Honors: Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (1992)
- Education: École du Louvre, Nantes University
Questions readers ask
How many reconstructive surgeries did she undergo after her 1949 crash?
Auriol underwent 33 reconstructive operations during her three-year recovery period.
What was her final speed record in 1963?
She achieved an FAI-ratified average speed of 2,038.70 km/h in a Dassault Mirage IIIR.
Did she win any major international awards?
Yes, she was awarded the Harmon International Trophy four times between 1951 and 1956.
Achievements
- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour — 1992
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
- Educated at Nantes University, Lycée Blanche-de-Castille and École du Louvre
- Worked as aircraft pilot
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