Michel Chalard 1919-1957

Michel Chalard was born in 1919 in Villeurbanne and was educated at the Ecole de La Martiniere Lyon.He gained his wings in 1937. He joined the Air Force and was assigned to Bron airbase Group 1/35 on Amiot 143's. In 1944/45, flying B26 Marauders, he participated in the campaigns of Italy, southern France and Germany. At the of hostilities he joined the test center flight at Orange, and later that of Bretigny.
He took the test pilot's course at EPNER in 1950 where he is graduated. He became deputy director of the school from 1951 to 1952. He left the Air Force in 1952 with the rank of Captain. Assigned to the test center Brétigny as a civilian test pilot, he performed the official trials of Morane MS 755 "Fleuret" and the CM 170 Fouga Magister. In 1955, Michel Chalard was hired by Nord Aviation and participated in testing jet aircraft "Gerfaut" and "Griffon". On February 28, 1957, at Istres, he took the world record speed in the Gerfaut.
He was killed in the crash of a Nord 2501 in 1957.