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Paris, October 28, 1905 - Neuilly-sur-Seine, October 5, 1956
Michel Détroyat was a test pilot, aerobatics and air race champion. He held an important role in the French aviation in the thirties.
Starting his aviation career at Istres, France, in 1923, he contributed in 1924 to the founding of the aerobatics school and quickly became a student-instructor at Le Bourget 34th Aviation Regiment and participated in the creation of the first "acrobatics patrol" led by commander Pinsard. He developed the "slow roll" maneuver and demonstrated great skill in the art of piloting. The accuracy of his landings, engine stalled or not, earned him the respect of his peers.
On 12 and 13 April 1927, Détroyat performs the first round trip Paris-Istres on a Breguet 19 at a speed of 200 km/h (one way) and 155 km/h (back) without navigational error.
On May 21, 1927, Michel Détroyat welcomes Charles Lindbergh in Paris, after his famous non-stop solo crossing of the Atlantic.
Michel Détroyat left the army in June 1927 and joined Morane-Saulnier as second pilot and instructor. He became a test pilot after the tragic accident of his predecessor, Alfred Fronval, on June 28, 1928.
Michel Détroyat took part in many competitions, exhibitions and numerous raids. He won the famous Michelin Cup in 1929 and 1930.
Despite two serious accidents (Vaneasa, Romania in 1930 and on 26 October 1931, returning from a meeting in Tours), he continued his career and was appointed Knight of the "Légion d'Honneur" on 29 October 1931 on his hospital bed.
On 8 January 1934, Michel Détroyat marries Fanny Barrois (1913-2006) in Wavrin (North of France). Four children were born from this marriage.
That same year he becomes chief pilot for the Morane-Breguet-Wibault association and also holds the position of technical adviser for Romania.
February 28, 1936, Michel Détroyat is promoted Officer of the "Légion d'Honneur".
In September 1936, Détroyat was invited to the National Air Races (Los Angeles). He wins the race on his Renault powered Caudron C.460. On 6 September 1936, he wins the Greve Trophy at an average 397.432 km/h. On 7 September 1936, he wins the Thompson Trophy at the speed of 425.194 km/h, 52 km/h faster than the previous record. Since that day, he remains the only non-American pilot to have won the US National Air Races.
On March 1, 1937, Michel Détroyat becomes "Pilote Expert National" by the French Air Ministry. He then becomes Inspector of flying hardware for SNCA (National Aircraft Construction Societies) and follows the prototypes before their presentation to CEMA (Air Equipment Testing Commission).
He then goes to Germany, invited by General Ernst Udet (that he knows since the 1928 aerobatics competition).
In April 1938, he becomes "Adviser to the Air Minister" and makes several study missions in the United States. He participates with Charles Lindbergh (sent on the US embassy's request who had ordered a report on the Luftwaffe) to the Lilienthal convention. Thanks to General Udet, both pilots visit the Messerschmitt factory and are completely stunned by the much higher production rates, compared to those they know in their own countries. Back in France, Michel Détroyat tries to alert the Prime Minister, Edouard Daladier, but faces a wall: "You've been bluffed, little Détroyat."
In 1939, he traveled to the US to test the P-36 he favors the order of a hundred units. This aircraft was best known in France as the Curtiss Hawk H.75 that equipped the French army during the first part of the Second World War.
On March 10, 1939, Michel Détroyat becomes president of the Association of Professional Airmen (APNA). On 2 July 1939, at Villacoublay, he gives his first flying lesson to the Emperor Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. In September, he is drafted as a monitor and initiates pilots in the use of the latest fighter aircraft. He keeps his first inspector title for new aviation prototypes. On December 25, he becomes a reserve captain.
He is demobilized in July 1940 after a one-month mission to the United States. Back in Paris, he made a few flights at Morane and Amiot, then enters the industry and participates in many galas for prisoners.
On 19 January, 1943, he receives the "Gallic Francisque" with Lieutenant Colonel de Gorostarzu and Dr. Ménétrel as sponsors.
In 1945 he moves to Spain, where he woos Maud Guilbaud, then goes to Argentina in 1946 where he becomes technical adviser for various companies. He worked for some time for the billionaire Jorge Atucha and takes care of its fleet.
In 1951, he returns to France to resume his training and participates in meetings until 1954, when he flies airliners in Indochina. Détroyat took part in the Hanoi-Saigon airlift and was appointed pilot instructor for the Vietnamese Aviation Branch in 1955.
He returns to France in July 1955 to fly jets like the SIPA S.200, Morane-Saulnier Paris and Fouga Magister).
On May 7, 1956, he manages to land his Piper on a concrete pad of only 50 m in length.
On 9 September, Michel Détroyat is transported to the hospital for major surgery and is operated on 2 October. On the morning of 5 October, it is felled by a stroke. Michel Détroyat had 8,200 flight hours on over 300 aircraft types. He is buried on October 8, 1956 in the cemetery of Saint-Pierre-d'Irube (Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France).
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