Béatrice Vialle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Béatrice Vialle
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| Born | 4 August 1961 Bourges, Cher, France
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| Known for | Only French-qualified female Concorde pilot and one of the two female Concorde operational pilots |
| Aviation career | |
| First flight | Robin HR 100 Tiara |
| Famous flights | Final Air France Concorde flight, AF 4332, with fare-paying passengers on board. 31 May 2003. |
| Flight license | June 1984, Professional Pilot 1st Class Saint-Yan, Saône-et-Loire |
Béatrice Vialle (born August 4, 1961, in Bourges, France) is a famous French aviator. She is one of only two women in the world who flew the amazing Concorde supersonic jet. She was also the very first French woman to pilot such a fast airliner.
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Béatrice Vialle: A Pioneer Pilot
Béatrice Vialle is known for her incredible career in aviation. She broke barriers by becoming a pilot for the legendary Concorde. This made her a true pioneer in the world of flying.
Early Career and Training
Béatrice Vialle started her journey to become a pilot by studying at a special French university. This university is called École nationale de l'aviation civile. She graduated in 1981, ready to become an airline transport pilot.
Her first job was with an airline named Air Littoral. There, she flew a plane called an Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante. In 1985, she moved to a bigger airline, Air France. At Air France, she flew large planes like the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 747.
Flying the Supersonic Concorde
On July 24, 2000, Béatrice Vialle became qualified to fly the Concorde. The Concorde was a special supersonic jet that could fly faster than the speed of sound. This was a huge achievement!
On November 19, 2001, she made her first commercial flight with the Concorde. This made her one of only two female Concorde pilots in the world. The other female pilot was Barbara Harmer from Britain. Béatrice Vialle was also the first French woman to pilot a supersonic airliner. Another Frenchwoman, Jacqueline Auriol, had flown the Concorde before, but she was a test pilot, not a commercial pilot.
Béatrice Vialle completed 45 supersonic flights between Paris and New York City. She also made three trips across the Atlantic Ocean in the Concorde.
After Concorde: A Captain's Journey
The Concorde flights ended on May 31, 2003. After that, Béatrice Vialle continued her impressive career. She became a Captain flying Boeing 747-400 planes. She continued to fly these large aircraft, showing her skill and dedication as a pilot.
