Yvonne Jourjon

Yvonne Jourjon (13 September 1899 - 4 September 1985) was a pioneering French pilot and flight instructor. She was the first woman flight instructor in France.

Early life Yvonne Albine Jourjon was born in Besançon on 13 September 1889. In 1924, she obtained her parachuting licence and, in 1932, joined the Union des pilotes civils de France. The following year, she passed her aeroplane pilot's licence.

On 24 September 1934, she flew with Madeleine Charnaux, who was attempting to break a women's altitude record flying a Miles Hawk with a 105 hp De Havilland Gipsy III engine. They succeeded, reaching 4,990 meters (16,371 feet) but the record only stood until 22 November when Marthe de Lacombe reached 5,632 metres in a Morane-Saulnier 341. In 1935, she won the Douze heures d'Angers with Marthe de Lacombe.

In 1970, Jourjon was recognised by the International Aeronautical Federation for her contribution to the aviation industry.

Yvonne Jourjon died on 4 September 1985 in Ivry-sur-Seine.

Commemoration In 2010, the town of Avrillé, Vendée named a street after Jourjon.